HomeBlogPatientBad Bacteria: Is Your Gut to Blame for Your Mental Health Condition? Bad Bacteria: Is Your Gut to Blame for Your Mental Health Condition? December 5, 2016Patient Might the addition of a probiotic to your diet help ease day-to-day stress and anxiety? Could it also help improve depressive symptoms or other mental health conditions? The idea is actually not so far-fetched as it might sound. Over the past few years, multiple studies have suggested that having a diverse microbiome, or thriving community of bacteria and other microorganisms in your gut, is crucial to optimal health—both in the body and the brain. The so-called “gutbrain connection” influences far more than just diet and bathroom issues. In fact, scientists are discovering that our guts and brains are intricately linked, passing information back and forth almost constantly. That means that imbalances in the gut can lead to imbalances in the brain as well—influencing our mood, cognition, and our overall mental health. John Cryan , a neuroscientist at the Microbiome Institute at University College Cork in Ireland, has demonstrated that a diverse microbiome is critical to brain health. His lab was one of the first to show that when animals and humans are stressed out, you’ll see decreased diversity in gut bacteria. Other studies have shown that animals who were bred with no gut bacteria have a much greater stress response than normal animals. And clinicians have long known that many individuals suffering from mental health conditions often also have a variety of gastro-intestinal problems, too. A strong link exists. But how might you correct such an imbalance in the gut? Cryan has been looking at what happens when you add certain bacterial strains, like Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium longum—so-called probiotics— to the diet. Evidence in animal research suggests they might help mitigate stress levels. “We’ve found that some of these different bacterial strains have quite strong effects on both reducing stress and improving cognition, in particular a strain Bifidobacterium longum NCIMB 41676, in healthy mice,” he says. “And it gave us the idea that it might show similar beneficial effects in humans.” In fact, the results were so striking Cryan and colleagues decided to test the Bifidobacterium on a group of healthy individuals to see how it might affect them. The researchers recruited 22 healthy males to participate in a small clinical trial. Each were initially assessed for acute stress. Immediately following, half the group tipped a sachet of Bifidobacterium into their milk each morning for four weeks while the other half received a placebo. The participants were then assessed for stress again. The researchers found that the individuals taking the Bifidobacterium showed a significant reduction in cortisol in response to acute stress as well as lowered self-reports of daily stress during the duration of the experiment. Cryan says the effects are small but are very “encouraging.” And while this particular trial was conducted on healthy individuals, it’s possible that probiotic use could one day be extended to help individuals who struggle with depression or other mental health conditions to stay more balanced. Lorenza Colzato is a cognitive psychology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands who has also demonstrated the positive effects of probiotics in a small clinical trial. She agrees with Cryan—but cautions this line of research is still in its infancy. “We still need to see a lot more clinical trials carried out,” she says. “But the results are very promising and I look forward to them being replicated in a larger sample size.” That said, she does admit she’s added a daily probiotic, along with a magnesium and multi-vitamin supplement, to her daily regimen—it could be worth asking your doctor about adding one to yours. The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”. Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. 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Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more
Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more
Patient Cyberbullying: Unique Challenges and Impacts ‘We lost our daughter to cyberbullying.’ McKenna Brown was an accomplished hockey player and scholar, known for her kindness, when she became the target of int... Read more
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Patient The Impact of Gratitude on Depression and Anxiety “Say ‘Thank you,” a mother reminds her young kiddo. “T.G.I.F.!” we cheer at the end of a long week. We know it’s important to be thankful. But do we ... Read more
Patient The Silent Thief: The 5 Things Depression Can Steal “Depression is a thief,” writes Abhinav Chaurasia, a marketing automation specialist in an essay on LinkedIn. “It steals your joy, your motivation, and your abi... Read more
Patient How to Talk to Your Doctor about Anxiety Medication “When I was 27, I felt bad all the time,” writes Joanna Goddard on the popular Cup of Jo blog. She describes her initial experience with anxiety in detail. ... Read more
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Patient Adult ADHD: Symptoms, treatment, where to start Many people may incorrectly think ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, only impacts children. After all, according to the Centers for Disease C... Read more
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