Probiotics supplements may help reduce depression

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Foods that broaden the profile of helpful bacteria in the gut are collectively known as probiotics, while prebiotics is compounds that help these bacteria to flourish.

In a recent study published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, researchers found that probiotics either taken by themselves or when combined with prebiotics, may help to ease depression.

The study is from Brighton and Sussex Medical School. One author is Sanjay Noonan.

A two-way link exists between the brain and the digestive tract, known as the gut-brain axis.

And the possibility that the microbiome—the range and number of bacteria resident in the gut—might help treat mental ill health has become a focus of interest in recent years.

In the study, the team searched for relevant studies published in English between 2003 and 2019, which looked at the potential therapeutic contribution of pre-and probiotics in adults with depression and/or anxiety disorders.

In all, 12 probiotic strains featured in the selected studies, primarily Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidium.

One study looked at combined pre-probiotic treatment, while one looked at prebiotic therapy by itself.

All of the studies concluded that probiotic supplements either alone or in combination with prebiotics may be linked to measurable reductions in depression.

And every study showed a big fall or improvement in anxiety symptoms and/or clinically relevant changes in biochemical measures of anxiety and/or depression with probiotic or combined pre-probiotic use.

Of the 12 different probiotics investigated, 11 were potentially useful, the findings showed.

The team says future research is needed to see whether the effects are long-lasting and whether there might be any unwanted side effects linked to prolonged use.

Probiotics may help reduce the production of inflammatory chemicals, such as cytokines, as is the case in inflammatory bowel disease.

Or they may help direct the action of tryptophan, a chemical thought to be important in the gut-brain axis in psychiatric disorders.

If you care about depression, please read studies about people with depression need to protect their blood vessels carefully and findings of why ketamine could fight depression fast.

For more information about depression and your health, please see recent studies about this thyroid problem may increase risk of depression and anxiety and results showing that people with depression more likely to have multiple chronic diseases.

Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.