Psychobiotic: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:56, 23 March 2025

Microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on the host's mental health

Psychobiotics are a class of probiotics that are believed to confer mental health benefits to the host when ingested in adequate amounts. These microorganisms, which include certain strains of bacteria and yeast, are thought to influence the gut-brain axis, a complex communication network that links the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.

Mechanism of Action[edit]

Psychobiotics are thought to exert their effects through several mechanisms. They may modulate the immune system, produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which is involved in the body's response to stress.

Gut-Brain Axis[edit]

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that involves the enteric nervous system, the vagus nerve, and the microbiota. Psychobiotics may influence this axis by altering the composition of the gut microbiota, which in turn can affect brain function and behavior.

Types of Psychobiotics[edit]

Several strains of bacteria have been identified as potential psychobiotics. These include species from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Lactobacillus[edit]

Species such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus have been studied for their potential to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Bifidobacterium[edit]

Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium breve are other examples of bacteria that may have psychobiotic properties.

Potential Benefits[edit]

Psychobiotics are being researched for their potential to alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Some studies suggest that they may improve mood and cognitive function.

Dietary Sources[edit]

Psychobiotics can be found in fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut. They can also be taken as dietary supplements.

Fructans, a type of prebiotic that can support psychobiotic growth

Prebiotics and Psychobiotics[edit]

Prebiotics, such as fructans, are non-digestible food components that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. They can enhance the effects of psychobiotics by providing a favorable environment for their growth.

Research and Future Directions[edit]

The field of psychobiotics is still in its early stages, and more research is needed to fully understand their mechanisms and potential benefits. Future studies may explore the specific strains and doses that are most effective for different mental health conditions.

Related Pages[edit]

Template:Probiotics

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-{{medref|date=December 2018}}
+{{Short description|Microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on the host's mental health}}
-'''Psychobiotics''' is a term used in preliminary research to refer to [[probiotic|live bacteria]] that, when ingested in appropriate amounts, might confer a [[mental health]] benefit by affecting [[microbiota]] of the host organism.<ref name="Sarkar_2016" /> Whether bacteria might play a role in the [[gut-brain axis]] is under research. However, as of 2018, there is a paucity of [[Randomized controlled trial|randomized controlled trials]] testing the effects of live, ingested bacterial strains on clear mental health outcomes, and those that have been done provide inconclusive results when viewed in aggregate.<ref name="romijn">{{cite journal | vauthors = Romijn AR, Rucklidge JJ | title = Systematic review of evidence to support the theory of psychobiotics | journal = Nutrition Reviews | volume = 73 | issue = 10 | pages = 675–93 | date = October 2015 | pmid = 26370263 | doi = 10.1093/nutrit/nuv025 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="lin">{{cite journal | vauthors = Liu B, He Y, Wang M, Liu J, Ju Y, Zhang Y, Liu T, Li L, Li Q | title = Efficacy of probiotics on anxiety-A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials | journal = Depression and Anxiety | volume = 35 | issue = 10 | pages = 935–945 | date = July 2018 | pmid = 29995348 | doi = 10.1002/da.22811| s2cid = 51615532 }}</ref>
+'''Psychobiotics''' are a class of [[probiotics]] that are believed to confer mental health benefits to the host when ingested in adequate amounts. These microorganisms, which include certain strains of [[bacteria]] and [[yeast]], are thought to influence the [[gut-brain axis]], a complex communication network that links the [[gastrointestinal tract]] and the [[central nervous system]].
-== Types ==
+==Mechanism of Action==
-[[File:Fructans.svg|thumb|Fructans]]
+Psychobiotics are thought to exert their effects through several mechanisms. They may modulate the [[immune system]], produce [[neurotransmitters]] such as [[serotonin]] and [[gamma-aminobutyric acid]] (GABA), and influence the [[hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis]], which is involved in the body's response to stress.
-In experimental probiotic psychobiotics, the bacteria most commonly used are [[gram-positive bacteria]], such as ''[[Bifidobacterium]]'' and ''[[Lactobacillus]]'' families, as these do not contain [[lipopolysaccharide]] chains, reducing the likelihood of an [[immunological response]].<ref name="Sarkar_2016">{{cite journal | vauthors = Sarkar A, Lehto SM, Harty S, Dinan TG, Cryan JF, Burnet PW | title = Psychobiotics and the Manipulation of Bacteria-Gut-Brain Signals | journal = Trends in Neurosciences | volume = 39 | issue = 11 | pages = 763–781 | date = November 2016 | pmid = 27793434 | pmc = 5102282 | doi = 10.1016/j.tins.2016.09.002 }}</ref> [[Prebiotic (nutrition)|Prebiotics]] are substances, such as [[Fructan|fructans]] and [[Oligosaccharide|oligosaccharides]], that induce the growth or activity of beneficial [[microorganism]]s, such as bacteria on being [[fermentation|fermented]] in the gut.<ref name="Sarkar_2016" /><ref name="2015defRev">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hutkins RW, Krumbeck JA, Bindels LB, Cani PD, Fahey G, Goh YJ, Hamaker B, Martens EC, Mills DA, Rastal RA, Vaughan E, Sanders ME | title = Prebiotics: why definitions matter | journal = Current Opinion in Biotechnology | volume = 37 | pages = 1–7 | date = February 2016 | pmid = 26431716 | pmc = 4744122 | doi = 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.09.001 }}</ref> Multiple bacterial species contained in a single probiotic broth is known as a polybiotic.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bambury A, Sandhu K, Cryan JF, Dinan TG | title = Finding the needle in the haystack: systematic identification of psychobiotics | journal = British Journal of Pharmacology | volume = 175 | issue = 24 | pages = 4430–4438 | date = December 2018 | pmid = 29243233 | pmc = 6255950 | doi = 10.1111/bph.14127 }}</ref>
-== Research ==
+[[File:Lactobacillus_acidophilus_(259_09)_Lactobacillus_acidophilus_(Döderlein_bacillus).jpg|thumb|Lactobacillus acidophilus, a common psychobiotic]]
-The field of psychobiotics in humans is nascent, though there have been many studies in rodents demonstrating increased cognitive functioning, decreased anxiety, and decreases in stress related pathology.<ref name = "Sarkar_2016" /> However, the human literature has yet to catch up with most rodent experiments, and has so far failed to produce a high number of well designed, randomized trials.  Several recent reviews have highlighted the fact that there is a need for more diverse human studies, particularly because those that exist are often hard to compare and have contradictory outcomes.<ref name=romijn/><ref name=lin/>
-===Species===
+===Gut-Brain Axis===
-[[File:Lactobacillus acidophilus (259 09) Lactobacillus acidophilus (Döderlein bacillus).jpg|thumb|Lactobacillus acidophilus]]
+The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that involves the [[enteric nervous system]], the [[vagus nerve]], and the [[microbiota]]. Psychobiotics may influence this axis by altering the composition of the gut microbiota, which in turn can affect brain function and behavior.
-Several species of bacteria have been used in probiotic psychobiotic research:<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Dinan TG, Stanton C, Cryan JF | title = Psychobiotics: a novel class of psychotropic | journal = Biological Psychiatry | volume = 74 | issue = 10 | pages = 720–6 | date = November 2013 | pmid = 23759244 | doi = 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.05.001 | s2cid = 40059439 }}</ref>
-* [[Lactobacillus helveticus]]
+==Types of Psychobiotics==
-* [[Bifidobacterium longum]]
+Several strains of bacteria have been identified as potential psychobiotics. These include species from the genera [[Lactobacillus]] and [[Bifidobacterium]].
-* [[Lactobacillus casei]]
-* [[Lactobacillus plantarum]]
-* [[Lactobacillus acidophilus]]
-* [[Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus]]
-* [[Bifidobacterium breve]]
-* [[Bifidobacterium infantis]]
-* [[Streptococcus thermophilus|Streptococcus salivarius]]
-*[[Lactobacillus rhamnosus]]
-*''[[Lactobacillus gasseri]]''
-== References ==
+===Lactobacillus===
-{{reflist}}
+Species such as ''[[Lactobacillus acidophilus]]'' and ''[[Lactobacillus rhamnosus]]'' have been studied for their potential to reduce symptoms of [[anxiety]] and [[depression]].
-{{Dietary supplement}}
+===Bifidobacterium===
+''[[Bifidobacterium longum]]'' and ''[[Bifidobacterium breve]]'' are other examples of bacteria that may have psychobiotic properties.
-[[Category:Bacteriology]]
+==Potential Benefits==
-[[Category:Digestive system]]
+Psychobiotics are being researched for their potential to alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders such as [[depression]], [[anxiety]], and [[stress]]. Some studies suggest that they may improve mood and cognitive function.
-[[Category:Probiotics| ]]
-[[Category:Gut flora]]
+==Dietary Sources==
-{{dictionary-stub1}}
+Psychobiotics can be found in fermented foods such as [[yogurt]], [[kefir]], and [[sauerkraut]]. They can also be taken as dietary supplements.
+[[File:Fructans.svg|thumb|Fructans, a type of prebiotic that can support psychobiotic growth]]
+==Prebiotics and Psychobiotics==
+Prebiotics, such as [[fructans]], are non-digestible food components that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. They can enhance the effects of psychobiotics by providing a favorable environment for their growth.
+==Research and Future Directions==
+The field of psychobiotics is still in its early stages, and more research is needed to fully understand their mechanisms and potential benefits. Future studies may explore the specific strains and doses that are most effective for different mental health conditions.
+==Related Pages==
+* [[Probiotics]]
+* [[Gut-brain axis]]
+* [[Microbiota]]
+* [[Mental health]]
+{{Probiotics}}
+[[Category:Probiotics]]
+[[Category:Mental health]]
+[[Category:Microbiology]]