We have 100 trillion bacteria in the intestinal track, and we typically give a trillion bacteria a day if using an antibiotic.
But Ullah offers fascinating information:
1. A systematic review studied the association between diet and depression in children and adolescents. The review concluded that a high intake of healthy foods (fruits, leafy green vegetables, and fish consumption) and a lower intake of unhealthy foods (fast foods, snacking, and confectionery/sweets) are associated with better mood and less depression.
2. Physicians first recognized the interaction between the gut and the brain centuries ago [
76 (opens in new tab)]. The correlation between altered bowel function and depression was realized in the 16th century, and this was scientifically corroborated by Manning et al. in 1978 by
linking irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with psychological stress, with some authors reporting about
50% of patients with comorbid anxiety or depression [
76 (opens in new tab),
77 (opens in new tab)].
3.
Intestinal permeability [leaky gut] upregulate systemic inflammation, regulate the monoamine neurotransmitter release, and alter the function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis.
Stress is also a known factor to increase the intestinal permeability, providing an opportunity to bacteria to translocate across the intestinal mucosa, thus accessing neuronal cells of the enteric nervous system [
80 (opens in new tab)].
4. The literature widely reports that modulating gut microbiota decreases inflammatory tone by reducing intestinal permeability.
Pretreatment of rats with Lactobacillus farciminis reduced the intestinal permeability and prevented associated HPA hyperactivity [
81 (opens in new tab)]. The gut microbiota communicated with the brain via immunoregulation, endocrine, and neuronal regulation pathways [
82 (opens in new tab)].
5. The involvement of the neuronal regulation pathway is demonstrated by the role of the gut microbiota in the secretion and regulation of neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), or dopamine) and the release of cytokines from stimulated intestinal lymphocytes [79 (opens in new tab),88 (opens in new tab)].
6. The vagus nerve forms a direct connection between the gut and the brain, and this may transmit neuronal, hormonal, and bacterial changes in the bowel directly to the brain [89 (opens in new tab)].
7. [Vast chemicals from] the gut microbiome affect brain development and plasticity [90 (opens in new tab),91 (opens in new tab)].
8. A rodent model of depression showed a decrease in the diversity of the gut microbiota, with a hyperactive HPA axis-upregulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines [93 (opens in new tab),94 (opens in new tab)].
9. Aizawa et al. reported a decrease in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in patients with [Major depression] MDD [95 (opens in new tab)].
10. Jiang et al. noted an increase in Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria with a decrease in Firmicutes in MDD [96 (opens in new tab)].
11. Numerous strategies have been proposed to prevent or treat neuropsychiatric disorders…. including the use of probiotics [97 (opens in new tab)].
Probiotics and Antidepressant Potential
Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when supplemented in sufficient amounts via improvement or restoration of the gut flora. They can be consumed as food supplements or in functional foods and generally include species of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces, some strains of Escherichia coli, and some Gram-positive cocci [98 (opens in new tab)].
12. Probiotic species with healthy benefits in psychiatric patients are referred to as psychobiotics, acting by producing and delivering neuroactive ——–substances that may act on the gut–brain axis and, in some cases, may serve as antidepressants [76 (opens in new tab)].
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3. There was an improvement of depression and anxiety symptoms with
Vitamin D
antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E)
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) [
19 (opens in new tab)]
essential trace elements (selenium, zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and chromium) [
23 (opens in new tab)].
Ullah H, Khan A, Rengasamy KRR, Di Minno A, Sacchi R, Daglia M. The Efficacy of S-Adenosyl Methionine and Probiotic Supplementation on Depression: A Synergistic Approach. Nutrients. 2022 Jul 1;14(13):2751. doi: 10.3390/nu14132751. PMID: 35807931; PMCID: PMC9268496.
