Can Probiotics Promote Good Mental Health?
Probiotics promote healthy levels of serotonin...the feel good neurotransmitter
Opinions about food have long been a source of contention between family, friends, and strangers. Pickles, sauerkraut, and cottage cheese are just a few examples of foods that are loved dearly by some and despised by others (see the graphic below).
Those who are fans of these controversial foods may be in luck. These foods are rich in probiotics, beneficial bacteria that are instrumental in maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Research suggests that gut health may have a significant effect on mental health through the gut-brain axis.(4) So could probiotics be used to improve mental health?
“Probiotics could alleviate depressive symptoms in patients with a depression diagnosis"
A probiotic is a microbe that can be isolated from a human and survive in the intestine after being safely consumed. In order to be classified as a probiotic, the microbe must also provide some benefit to the body.
Foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso, and kefir contain probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. A diet rich in probiotics may relieve the symptoms of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.(5)
Like the brain, the gut also produces neurotransmitters.
The digestive tract produces nearly 90% of the body’s serotonin. Cognition, memory, learning, physiological processes, and mood, are all modulated by serotonin.(6) Considering the bidirectional relationship of the gut and brain, it is hypothesized that probiotics may play a role in improving cognitive function and mood by remediating the health of the digestive tract.
A study exploring the effect of probiotics on depressive symptoms in humans concluded that “treatment with probiotics may improve symptoms associated with MDD (major depressive disorder) by increasing serotonin availability and/or decreasing levels of inflammatory markers”.(7)
Another study on depressive or anxiety variables in humans concluded that “probiotics could alleviate depressive symptoms in patients with a depression diagnosis” and “probiotics may be adjunct therapies for mood or emotional disorders”.
Despite promising results, additional trials in clinical psychiatric samples are needed to further explore the role of probiotics in mental health.(8)
While researchers continue to investigate the link between the gut and the brain, perhaps consider adding more pickles or yogurt to your diet. You may experience a boost in your mood, whether from the presence of probiotics or just because of a tasty snack.
by Alexandra Lopez
