Science has shown that the intestinal microbiota (a set of microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses that live in our intestine) affects health and that its alterations can contribute to the development of physical or mental diseases. Diet influences the type of microorganisms that predominate in our gut and research has revealed how Lactobacillus, a bacteria found in fermented foods and yogurt, helps the body manage stress and can help prevent depression and depression. anxiety.
The study has been carried out by researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA) who believe that their findings lay the foundation for developing new therapeutic options to combat anxiety, depression and other mental health problems because, according to them, they have It has been proven that Lactobacillus plays a key role independently of the rest of the microorganisms that live naturally in and on our bodies.
“Our discovery illuminates how gut-resident Lactobacillus influences mood disorders by adjusting the immune system,” said Alban Gaultier, of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience, its Center for Brain and Glia Immunology, and the Research Initiative. TransUniversity Microbiome. “Our research could pave the way toward discovering much-needed therapies for anxiety and depression.”
Prevent and treat anxiety and depression with probiotics
Our intestines naturally harbor a huge amount of bacteria, fungi and viruses; In fact, there are more microorganisms living in and on us than there are cells in our body, the researchers explain. This may seem disgusting, but these tiny organisms and their interactions are critical to the immune system, physical and mental health, and other aspects of well-being.
It is known that alterations in the microbiota, due to illness, inadequate diet, or other causes, contribute to the development of diseases, and even favor the spread of cancer. That’s why in recent years researchers have been very excited about the potential to combat diseases by focusing on the microbiota.
“Most importantly, we can now explore how maintaining a healthy level of Lactobacillus or gamma interferon could be investigated to prevent and treat anxiety and depression.”
Early attempts to manipulate gut flora with beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, have produced mixed results. The enormous complexity of the microbiome, which is estimated to include 39 trillion microorganisms, is the main challenge, since trying to understand what specific bacteria or fungi do (let alone how they interact with all the other microorganisms and their host) can be like trying to count grains of sand on the beach.
Gaultier and his team focused specifically on lactobacilli. Results from their previous studies had suggested that this bacteria could reverse depression in laboratory mice, but they needed to understand how. “We knew from our previous research that Lactobacillus was beneficial in improving mood disorders and was lost after psychological stress, but the underlying reasons were unclear, mainly due to the technical challenges associated with studying the microbiome.”
They decided to continue their research into depression using a collection of bacteria, known as ‘Altered Schaedler Flora’, which includes two strains of Lactobacillus and six other bacterial strains. With this underutilized bacterial community, the team was able to create mice with and without Lactobacillus, avoiding the need for antibiotics.
The altered Flora Schaedler produced exciting results. Gaultier and his colleagues were able to explain exactly how lactobacilli influence behavior and how a lack of bacteria can worsen depression and anxiety. Lactobacilli of the Lactobaccillacea family maintain levels of an immune mediator called gamma interferon that regulates the body’s response to stress and helps prevent depression.
These findings have been published in the journal Brain Behavior and Immunity and thanks to them, researchers are poised to develop new ways to prevent and treat depression and other mental health problems in which Lactobacillus plays an important role. For example, people with depression or those at risk for depression one day could take probiotic supplements specially formulated to optimize their Lactobacillus levels.
“With these results in hand, we have new tools to optimize the development of probiotics, which should accelerate the discoveries of new therapies,” said researcher Andrea R. Merchak. “Most importantly, we can now explore how maintaining a healthy level of Lactobacillus or gamma interferon could be investigated to prevent and treat anxiety and depression.”
