. A prospective study was conducted recently to evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 (BL) on anxiety and depression in patients with IBS.
‘Individuals taking probiotics had a reduced fear response on fMRI in areas of the brain associated with emotional processing such as the amygdala.’
The study found that the
probiotic diet reduces depression but not anxiety scores and increases the quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These improvements were associated with changes in brain activation patterns that indicate that this probiotic reduces limbic reactivity.
The fMRI analysis showed that diet rich in
probiotics reduced responses to negative emotional stimuli in multiple brain areas, including amygdala and fronto-limbic regions. Individuals who have been consuming a diet rich in probiotics showed reduced urine levels of methylamines and aromatic amino acids metabolites. At week 10, depression scores were reduced in patients given probiotic-rich-diet.
"This is a fascinating discovery that supports the conclusion that probiotics, which primarily work in the intestines, also affect the brain. That makes the result interesting for the treatment of depression," Abildgaard added.
References :
- Maria Ines Pinto-Sanchez, Geoffrey B. Hall et al. Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 Reduces Depression Scores and Alters Brain Activity: A Pilot Study in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Journal http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.05.003
Source: Eurekalert
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