How probiotics may affect gut-brain signals to help treat depression and anxiety

Accumulating data indicate that the gut microbiota communicates with the central nervous system through multiple pathways.

• There is a bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and brain function, known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
• Probiotic treatments may offer potential therapeutic and preventative measures for depressive and anxiety disorders.
• Studies in germ-free animals suggest that the microbiota regulates the stress response and CNS development at critical stages.
• Probiotics have been shown to reduce anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in experimental animal models.
• Clinical studies imply that probiotics may help alleviate anxiety symptoms, despite some inconsistencies in the results.

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