Emerging
studies have suggested that pathogenic and non-pathogenic gut bacteria might
influence mood-related symptoms and even behavior in animals and humans. Recent
studies illustrated that
gastrointestinal pathogens can communicate with the central nervous system and
influence behavior associated with emotion, anxiety in particular, even at
extremely low levels and in the absence of an immune response. Investigators
have also shown that the administration of certain probiotic bacteria may
support resilience and positively alter stress-related emotional behavior in
animals under experimental stress. These probiotics organisms have the
potential to influence mood-regulating systemic inflammatory cytokines,
decrease oxidative stress and improve nutritional status when orally consumed
Patients
with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other functional somatic disorders have
alterations in the intestinal microbial flora. A recent study evaluated the
effect of probiotic on the emotional symptoms of 39 patients with CFS. The
patients were randomized to receive either 24 billion colony forming units of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS)
or a placebo daily for two months. A
significant rise in both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in those taking the
LcS, and there was also a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms among those
taking the probiotic vs controls (p = 0.01). These results provide support to
the presence of a gut-brain interface that may be mediated by microbes that
reside or pass through the intestinal tract.
This
preliminary research suggest the possibility that probiotics might influence
anxiety and depression. The results of the present study should be a stimulus
for further research about the utility of probiotics and their effects on anxiety
and depression.
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