A recent study has found that microbes containing foods or supplements also called probiotics can help reduce the effects of depression. The new research adds to increasing evidence of how gut microbiome affects the brain.
This is according to review study which came from a review of 71 studies that studied the effects of probiotics and prebiotics on adults with depression and/or anxiety disorders.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are yeasts and bacteria that are good for the body. They especially help to boost the digestive system. In many cases, yeast and bacteria are known to be disease causing agents. However, the body is full of bacteria both good and bad. Probiotics can be found in some food and supplements.
To qualify as a probiotic, a microbe must have a number of factors. First, they should be able to be isolated from humans. They should be able to survive in the intestines and have proven to be of benefit to the body. The microbe should be safe to consume.
Generally, probiotics help in improving and maintaining a healthy balance in the body. These good bacteria fight the bad ones to maintain the body in neutral. The entry of bad bacteria in the body causes the body to lose balance. The good bacteria fight the bad ones to restore balance in the body.
And now researcher have identified 12 bacteria that are beneficial to the body. These include Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. From the review, only seven studies showed significant improvement in mental health after taking probiotic.
How probiotic help manage depression
The study was conducted by scientists from Croydon University Hospital and the University of Bright in the United Kingdom and found that probiotics help to reduce depression. According to the study, the good bacteria help to cut the production of inflammatory chemicals like cytokines. In addition, probiotics help support the functions of tryptophan in the gut-brain axis.
Probiotic also help to manage depression by treating underlying conditions because in many cases, depression is caused by underlying conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and impaired insulin production. Researchers did not however find any benefits of probiotics to people suffering from anxiety.
