- A new study showed that people with major depressive disorder experienced less symptoms when they took probiotic supplements along with standard antidepressants.
- The results of this study suggest that probiotic supplementation may help adults with depression as a complementary therapy, but more research is needed.
- Experts recommend incorporating probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and tempeh into your diet.
Antidepressants are usually the first-line treatment for people with major depressive disorder.However, during
According to a new study published in
This eight-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, in collaboration with ADM Protexin.
Researchers wanted to explore the relationship between improved gut health, especially probiotic supplementation, and its effects on mental health.
They examined 50 outpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder who scored 13 or higher on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17). During the study, participants were instructed to take antidepressants for at least 6 weeks and not make any changes.
In this study, 49 adults with major depressive disorder who had not responded to prescribed antidepressants were given a 14-strain blended probiotic supplement or an identical placebo. Twenty-four participants took probiotics.
Both groups saw improvement in symptoms during the study, but more improvement was observed in the probiotic group from week 4 onwards.
“One particularly interesting finding was changes in anxiety scores, which have been largely unexplored in studies of probiotics in depression,” he said. Dr. Nikolovasaid lead author of the study at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. medical news today.
“This study is the first in a Western population to demonstrate both the well-tolerated and positive mental health effects of probiotics in depressed adults currently taking antidepressants. It is one of the tests of
— Dr. Viktoriya Nikolova, lead study author
With encouraging results, a larger follow-up trial is planned.
“Given the exciting results seen in this study, a large-scale follow-up study is currently being planned by the principal investigator of this study, Professor Stone, but this has yet to be confirmed.” Dr. Nikolova added.
“Our understanding of the gut microbiome and its effects on mental health is still in its early stages.” Dr. Benjamin LernerHe is a gastroenterologist at Bridgeport Hospital and assistant professor of gastroenterology at Yale University School of Medicine, but was not involved in the study.
“We know that the human body is home to trillions of microbes, most of which live in the gut. We know that these microbes affect digestion, metabolism and inflammation. And we know that the brain and digestive system communicate via neural and hormonal signals, collectively called the gut-brain axis,” he explained.
Still, it’s important to keep in mind that we still have a lot to learn about mental health and the biological complexity of the gut microbiome.
“The human brain and gut microbiota are two of the most complex biological systems. They almost certainly influence each other in multiple ways, possibly simultaneously,” said Dr. Lerner.
Research supports the idea that probiotic supplementation may be an effective treatment for altering gut-brain interactions.
“The gut-brain axis is a concept that suggests a correlation between the gut microbiota and neuroendocrine immune pathways,” he said. Kelsey CostaRegistered dietitian nutritionist, health research specialist.
“Recent research suggests that this connection is facilitated through a range of physiological and biochemical pathways, including hormones, the immune system, and metabolic substrates produced by the microbiota,” she said.
Dr. Lerner said the mechanisms of how probiotic supplements help with depression are still unclear.
“Possible mechanisms include the production of neurotransmitters that affect mood and the downregulation of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules called cytokines,” he said.
The positive physical effects of a healthy gut microbiota can also translate into a healthier mental state.
“Probiotic supplements may reduce symptoms of MDD by improving and redistributing microbiota species, maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The benefits extend to changes in positive behavior, mood, sleep, appetite and cognition, and may improve overall mental health,” Costa said.
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence on the link between the gut microbiome and mental health, and represents an important step forward in understanding how probiotics can be used to support mental health.” increase.”
— Dr. Viktoriya Nikolova, lead study author
The biggest limitation of this study was the small sample size.
“This particular study was very small, with only 25 participants in each arm. In addition, all participants received antidepressants in addition to probiotics. We don’t know if it holds up in large-scale studies, or if probiotics have a positive effect in the absence of antidepressants,” Dr. Lerner said.
Additionally, not all probiotics are the same.
“Different species and strains can affect the body in different ways,” Dr. Lerner added.
“Some research should change the way patients are treated, and some research should prompt more research. This is one of the studies that should prompt more research. [with] People with depression should be encouraged to seek professional help rather than self-medicate with probiotics,” he said.
There are many probiotic-rich foods that you can incorporate into your diet to improve gut health.
“I prefer foods that are naturally rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh and kefir. includes whole grains, apples, bananas, onions, garlic, asparagus and artichokes,” Dr. Lerner said.
Meanwhile, Professor Costa suggested the following foods to increase your probiotic intake:
- Yogurt: Yogurt is one of the most popular sources of probiotics among dairy and non-dairy products. Yogurt, which is widely available in the market, is an easy and convenient way to add probiotics to your diet.
- Other dairy products: Other fermented dairy products such as cultured buttermilk, cheese and kefir are also common sources of probiotics.
- Non-dairy foods: Good non-dairy choices include probiotic-rich foods like miso, tempeh, sauerkraut, kimchi, natto, and pickles. Probiotic strains may also be found in fermented grains, legumes, corn, pearl millet, and sorghum.
Kombucha is a popular probiotic-rich drink made from tea fermented with yeast and bacteria. Other dairy-free fermented beverages, such as coconut kefir, are also becoming more widely available.
