12 Dopamine Supplements to Boost Your Mood

Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that plays a role in the regulation of cognition, memory, motivation, mood, attention and learning.

It also aids in decision making and sleep regulation (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

Under normal circumstances, dopamine production is managed effectively by your body’s nervous system. However, there are various lifestyle factors and medical conditions that can cause dopamine levels to plummet.

Symptoms of low dopamine levels include loss of pleasure in things that you once found enjoyable, lack of motivation and apathy (3Trusted Source).

Here are 12 dopamine supplements to boost your mood.

1. Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that line your digestive tract. They help your body function properly.

Also known as the good gut bacteria, probiotics not only benefit gut health but may also prevent or treat various health problems, including mood disorders (4Trusted Source).

In fact, while harmful gut bacteria have been shown to decrease dopamine production, probiotics have the ability to increase it, which may boost mood (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

Several rat studies have shown increased dopamine production and improved mood and anxiety with probiotic supplements (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

Additionally, one study in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) found that those who received probiotic supplements had a reduction in depressive symptoms, compared to those who received a placebo (10Trusted Source).

While probiotic research is rapidly evolving, further studies are needed to fully understand the effect of probiotics on mood and dopamine production.

You can add probiotics to your diet by consuming fermented food products, such as yogurt or kefir, or taking a dietary supplement.

SUMMARY

Probiotics are important not only for digestive health but also for many functions in your body. They’ve been shown to increase dopamine production and improve mood in both animal and human studies.

2. Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna pruriens is a type of tropical bean native to parts of Africa, India and Southern China (11Trusted Source).

These beans are often processed into a dried powder and sold as dietary supplements.

The most significant compound found in Mucuna pruriens is an amino acid called levodopa (L-dopa). L-dopa is needed for your brain to produce dopamine (12Trusted Source).

Research has shown that Mucuna pruriens helps boost dopamine levels in humans, particularly those with Parkinson’s disease, a nervous system disorder that affects movement and is caused by a dopamine deficiency (13Trusted Source).

In fact, studies have indicated that Mucuna pruriens supplements may be just as effective as certain Parkinson’s medications at increasing dopamine levels (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

Mucuna pruriens may also be effective in boosting dopamine levels in those without Parkinson’s disease.

For example, one study found that taking 5 grams of Mucuna pruriens powder for three months increased dopamine levels in infertile men (16Trusted Source).

Another study found that Mucuna pruriens had an antidepressant effect in mice due to an increase in dopamine production (17Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Mucuna pruriens has been shown to be effective in increasing dopamine levels in both humans and animals and may have an antidepressant effect.

3. Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is a plant native to China that has been used for hundreds of years as a remedy for various health conditions.

Although research is inconsistent, ginkgo supplements may improve mental performance, brain function and mood in certain people.

Some studies have found that supplementing with Ginkgo biloba in the long term increased dopamine levels in rats, which helped improve cognitive function, memory and motivation (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).

One test-tube study showed that Ginkgo biloba extract appeared to increase dopamine secretion by reducing oxidative stress (21Trusted Source).

These preliminary animal and test-tube studies are promising. However, further research is needed before scientists can determine if Ginkgo biloba also increases dopamine levels in humans.

SUMMARY

Ginkgo biloba supplements have been shown to increase dopamine levels in animal and test-tube studies. However, further research is needed to conclude whether ginkgo is successful in increasing levels in humans.

4. Curcumin

Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric. Curcumin comes in capsule, tea, extract and powdered forms.

It’s thought to have antidepressant effects, as it increases the release of dopamine (22Trusted Source).

One small, controlled study found that taking 1 gram of curcumin had similar effects as that of Prozac on improving mood in people with major depressive disorder (MDD) (23Trusted Source).

There is also evidence that curcumin increases dopamine levels in mice (24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

However, more research is needed to understand curcumin’s role in increasing dopamine levels in humans and its use in the management of depression.

SUMMARY

Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric. It has been shown to increase dopamine levels in mice and may have antidepressant effects.

5. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil has various antioxidant and antibacterial properties that are likely due to its active ingredient, carvacrol (26Trusted Source).

One study showed that ingesting carvacrol promoted dopamine production and provided antidepressant effects in mice as a result (27Trusted Source).

Another study in mice found that oregano extract supplements inhibited the deterioration of dopamine and induced positive behavioral effects (28Trusted Source).

While these animal studies are encouraging, more human studies are warranted to determine whether oregano oil provides similar effects in people.