New research conducted by scientists links probiotics (live bacteria
that help maintain a healthy digestive system) to changes in mood and
mental health. Probiotics when ingested in adequate amounts offer
enormous potential for the treatment of depression and other
stress-related disorders.While many of the numerous health-improvement claims have yet to be
supported scientifically, it has been claimed that micro-organisms do
exert positive effects in intestinal tracts, particularly when used to
counteract the effects of antibiotics, which kill both 'bad' and 'good'
bacteria. Over the past few years, studies have been undertaken to explore the
possible impact of probiotics on behaviour. It is within this context
that the concept of a psychobiotic has arisen. Timothy Dinan and his colleagues from University College Cork in
Ireland, define a psychobiotic as "a live organism that, when ingested
in adequate amounts, produces a health benefit in patients suffering
from psychiatric illness." The gut microbiota, which contains approximately 1 kg of bacteria, can
be modulated by diet and many other factors. It is not static and can
change from day to day, starting at birth. Evidence has shown that even
the form of delivery (vaginal versus cesarean) alters an individual's
microbiota. Dinan and his colleagues review one study that assessed the potential
benefits of a specific probiotic, B. infantis, in rats displaying
depressive behaviour due to maternal separation. The probiotic treatment
normalized both their behaviour and their previously-abnormal immune
response. This preclinical study and others like it strongly support the
hypothesis that probiotics have the potential to exert behavioural and
immunological effects. The study is published in Biological Psychiatry.
Source: ANI
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