{"id":2051,"date":"2018-05-22T11:43:04","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T11:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uni-vite.com\/microbiotic\/?p=2051"},"modified":"2020-11-26T09:19:09","modified_gmt":"2020-11-26T09:19:09","slug":"probiotics-for-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uni-vite.com\/microbiotic\/probiotics-for-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Probiotics for depression"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Meet the psychobiotics<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

The right strain and level of probiotics can enable you to handle stress better, lift mood and help lower depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n

That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the conclusion from a randomised trial published in Nutrition<\/em> and a series of articles published in Biological Psychiatry.<\/em> The results were sufficiently convincing for the authors to coin the term pyschobiotics<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

We certainly know that there is a direct connection between the health of the gut and improvements in a number of conditions. Probiotics are able to improve digestive health, boost immune function, help treat candida and thrush and cut the risk of stomach upsets during foreign travel.<\/p>\n

How do probiotics act on the brain to become psychobiotics?<\/h4>\n

Although the improvements in mood are real, researchers are still not completely sure what the mechanisms are. There are three ways in which probiotics could be reducing stress, acting as anti-depressants and boosting mood.<\/p>\n

1. Probiotics can create new neurotransmitters<\/h5>\n

First, we know that gut bacteria can create neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, GABA<\/strong> and serotonin<\/strong>. Low levels of serotonin are associated with increased risk of sleep problems and depression \u00e2\u20ac\u201c although they are not apparently the direct cause. Adequate levels of serotonin, however, are definitely linked to happiness and positivity.<\/p>\n

We also know that low levels of acetylcholine in the brain are linked to increased risk of Alzheimer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s.<\/p>\n

2. Probiotics can help restore the stress response system<\/h5>\n

Secondly, psycho-biotics can help restore the body\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stress response system.<\/p>\n

This is quite complicated, but essentially the hypothalamus and pituitary glands should work in concert to create hormones that create enough blood sugar to bring the body back to a normal unstressed state. Certain probiotics can help ensure this happens.<\/p>\n

3. Probiotics have a positive anti-inflammatory effect<\/h5>\n

The third way in which psychobiotics can reduce depression and stress is via their anti-inflammatory effect. Chronic inflammation is now recognised as the key driver of many diseases, including heart disease and stroke. It is one of the major underlying causes of depression and cognitive impairments including dementia.<\/p>\n

All this explains why leading clinics are beginning to treat patients who have depression and even psychological disorders with probiotics \u00e2\u20ac\u201c alongside conventional therapies.<\/p>\n

Study reports patients “significantly less depressed” after probiotic treatment<\/h4>\n

A double blind trial (the gold standard in clinical research) was conducted on 40 patients with severe depression, allocated either a placebo or probiotics.<\/p>\n

After 8 weeks, the patients who received the probiotic supplements were \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcsignificantly less depressed\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

Even better, their inflammation levels were lower \u00e2\u20ac\u201c as measured by CRP scores \u00e2\u20ac\u201c they had lower insulin levels and reduced insulin resistance. Each of these positive outcomes is important for overall health and especially beneficial for diabetics.<\/p>\n

There was a significant further benefit \u00e2\u20ac\u201c they experienced a sizeable increase in their glutathione levels.<\/p>\n

The ‘master anti-oxidant’ glutathione<\/h5>\n

Glutathione is a simple molecule that you produce internally, but production normally declines with age.<\/p>\n

Glutathione has been called the master anti-oxidant<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it counteracts free radical (oxidative) damage to cells. Free radical damage is recognised to be a major element in accelerated ageing and age-related illness.<\/p>\n

Indeed, glutathione researcher Dr Mark Hyman states:<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have come to realize that our ability to produce and maintain a high level of glutathione is critical to recovery from nearly all chronic illness \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and to preventing disease and maintaining optimal health and performance.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A combination of health-positive effects<\/h5>\n

Lowered depression, lowered inflammation, lowered insulin levels and higher glutathione levels is a very powerful combination of health-positive outcomes. And this study is supported by others in which depression was reduced and mood boosted \u00e2\u20ac\u201c see references.<\/p>\n

So what are the strains involved in these studies?<\/p>\n

Which probiotics can help depression?<\/h4>\n

Analysing 7 studies on the effect of probiotics in reducing depression and stress and in improving mood, the following strains seems to be effective. The level appears to be 6 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 10 billion CFUs (Colony Forming Units) a day.<\/p>\n