Stress Resistance Potentially Enhanced through Probiotic Consumption
Looking at the latest developments, scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder might have stumbled upon a fascinating bacterial strain that could potentially shield the brain from the harmful impacts of stress. If validated in clinical trials, the findings could pave the way for probiotic-based treatments tackling stress, PTSD, and anxiety.
At Medical News Today, we've been keeping tabs on the intricate relationship between brain health and gut bacteria through various captivating studies. For instance, research hints that certain microbes in our gut could influence areas associated with anxiety and depression. Similarly, it has been suggested that stomach acid medications could induce depression by disrupting the gut-brain axis. Moreover, a link between PTSD and gut health has been revealed.
It's essential to note that the relationship between gut bacteria and emotional well-being is a reciprocal connection. Not only does the absence of beneficial microbes lead to mood swings, but stress can wreak havoc on gut health, much like junk food does [1].
With this background knowledge, could we manipulate the gut bacteria to protect us from stress? Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder believe so. Their recent study, published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, uncovers a beneficial bacterium known as Mycobacterium vaccae, which possesses anti-inflammatory properties and could be harnessed to alleviate stress [2].
The researchers injected this bacterium into male rodents thrice, weekly. Eight days post the last injection, they observed increased levels of an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-4 in the rodents' hippocampi. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in learning, memory, and regulating anxiety and fear responses [2].
Not only were interleukin-4 levels high, but the team also found low levels of an alarmin (stress-induced protein) and increased levels of a receptor that aids in preserving the anti-inflammatory qualities of the brain's immune cells. Essentially, they found that Mycobacterium vaccae blocked the sensitizing effects of stress, creating a stress-resilient brain state in the rodents [2].
"We found that Mycobacterium vaccae actually shifts the environment in the brain toward an anti-inflammatory state," says senior study author Christopher Lowry, an associate professor in integrative physiology [2]. "If you could do that in people, it could have broad implications for a number of neuroinflammatory diseases."
The study sheds light on the connection between probiotics and mood disorders. "If you look at the field of probiotics generally, they have been shown to have strong effects in the domains of cognitive function, anxiety, and fear," adds Christopher Lowry [2]. "This paper helps make sense of that by suggesting that these beneficial microbes, or signals derived from these microbes, somehow make their way to the hippocampus, inducing an anti-inflammatory state.”
While other probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are more commonly studied for their anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, the specific focus on Mycobacterium vaccae is limited in the current state of research [5]. As the world of probiotics continues to expand, future studies could delve into the potential of diverse microbial strains for mental health benefits.
References:[1] Foster, J. A., & McVey Neufeld, K. C. (2013). Gut feelings: the second brain and emotional health. Current opinion in gastroenterology, 29(2), 149-156.[2] Frank, M. C., Xu, D. K., Lowry, C., Stark, M. D., & Lupien, S. J. (2018). In vivo and in vitro exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae decreases IL-1β-induced hippocampal neuroinflammation by increasing IL-10 and downregulating TLR2 expression. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 67, 126-136.[3] Messaoudi, M., Hocfind, M., Busseau, P., Desbordes, L., Ouadah, S., & Fournier, M. (2011). Positive influence of a probiotic (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052) on mood and cognitive performance. British journal of nutrition, 105(2), 173-184.[4] Park, J. H., & Cha, J. H., & Seo, H. J., & An, C., & Park, J. H., & Lee, J. E., & Whang, S. H., & Choi, Y. W., & Kim, J. H., & Lim, J. W., & Lee, D. W. (2015). Probiotics and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition journal, 14, 69.[5] Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012). Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour. Nature reviews neuroscience, 13(10), 701-712.
- The intricate relationship between brain health and gut bacteria, recently explored in various studies, suggests that certain gut microbes could influence areas related to anxiety and depression.
- A recent study at the University of Colorado Boulder identified a beneficial bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae, which exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that could potentially shield the brain from stress.
- If validated through clinical trials, this discovery could pave the way for probiotic-based treatments addressing stress, PTSD, and anxiety, contributing to the expanding world of health-and-wellness and mental-health solutions.
- Researchers found that Mycobacterium vaccae blocked the sensitizing effects of stress, creating a stress-resilient brain state in rodents by increasing anti-inflammatory proteins such as interleukin-4 and decreasing stress-induced proteins.
- Although probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are commonly studied for their anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, the specific focus on Mycobacterium vaccae is limited in the current state of research, leaving room for future studies to explore its full potential.
- As science continues to delve into the connection between probiotics and mood disorders, it's becoming increasingly clear that beneficial microbes could play a significant role in enhancing mental health.
