The intestinal microbiota is known to play a key role in various neurological and psychiatric disorders via the microbiome-gut axis. Evidence suggests that people suffering from depression have a slightly different composition of intestinal flora. Now, a 31-day, double-blind study from the University of Basel has shown that the use of probiotics along with antidepressants can help alleviate depression.
Two groups Patients treated with antidepressants and probiotics (21 patients) Patients treated with antidepressants alone (26 patients) Findings Greater improvement in depressive symptoms in the probiotics group Increase in prevalence of certain bacteria— Bacteroides, Roseburia, Lactobacillus fMRI studies showed greater normalization of activity in the regions of brain associated with emotional processing such as the putamen in the probiotics group. The study suggests probiotics as a…
