MOOD ALTERING BACTERIA – INTRIGUING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BRAIN/GUT AXIS
MOOD ALTERING BACTERIA – INTRIGUING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BRAIN/GUT AXIS
In the past few years it has become public knowledge that gut microbiota can affect a wide range of physical conditions such as obesity,IBS & various allergies & food intolerance conditions. The latest research however shows that your gut bacteria can have a significant effect on your mood.
Studies on germ free mice have shown that they have higher levels of stress hormones than those with bugs. A transfer of gut microbes from an anxious strain of mouse into a germ-free mouse of a more adventurous strain and vice versa led to a behaviour metamorphosis ! How gut microbiota can bring about changes to the brain & its behaviour is far from clear as a multitude of bacteria all have different effects on a person’s physiology.
One particular strain Lactobacillus rhaminosis damped down anxiety & made animals more relaxed whilst in other studies scientists have deduced that Bifidobacteria & Lactobacillus might influence mood in humans as well as rodents. Healthy humans given a blend of probiotics for 30 days experienced less depression or low mood than those given a placebo. Much further research needs to be undertaken but a future of “psychbiotics” being prescribed for a range of mental health conditions is definitely on the horizon.
For advice on which Probiotics could be helpful for various mental health or physical conditions please contact Marlene.
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