Probiotics May Prove To Be A Mental Health Treatment!

The relationship between commensal bacteria and the human intestine has developed over millions of years. Recent studies have shown that these same gut bacteria also impact brain function through a nerve network. Wang et al maintains that antibiotics disturb the gut biome while probiotics protect it. In his research, he has shown that there are both physical and emotional changes that occur in mice that have consumed antibiotics and probiotics. He demonstrated that in the mice that consumed antibiotics and were treated with probiotics, there was a resolution of inflammation in the colon. In addition, the researchers confirmed physical changes in the brain and a reduction in anxiety-like behaviors and memory retention in treated mice. It is concluded that gut microbes regulate brain both physically and emotionally and probiotics may prove to be an effective treatment for mental disorders.

Lactobacillus fermentum NS9 restores the antibiotic induced physiological and psychological abnormalities in rats. Beneficial microbes (13 April 2015), pp. 1-11 by T. Wang, X. Hu, S. Liang, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13582801