Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials
Changes in the gut microbiome can affect cognitive and psychological functions via the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis. Probiotic supplements are thought to have largely positive effects on mental health when taken in sufficient amounts; however, despite extensive research having been conducted, the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/411 |
| _version_ | 1827343076311433216 |
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| author | Ermis Merkouris Theodora Mavroudi Daniil Miliotas Dimitrios Tsiptsios Aspasia Serdari Foteini Christidi Triantafyllos K. Doskas Christoph Mueller Konstantinos Tsamakis |
| author_facet | Ermis Merkouris Theodora Mavroudi Daniil Miliotas Dimitrios Tsiptsios Aspasia Serdari Foteini Christidi Triantafyllos K. Doskas Christoph Mueller Konstantinos Tsamakis |
| author_sort | Ermis Merkouris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Changes in the gut microbiome can affect cognitive and psychological functions via the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis. Probiotic supplements are thought to have largely positive effects on mental health when taken in sufficient amounts; however, despite extensive research having been conducted, there is a lack of consistent findings on the effects of probiotics on anxiety and depression and the associated microbiome alterations. The aim of our study is to systematically review the most recent literature of the last 10 years in order to clarify whether probiotics could actually improve depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results indicate that the majority of the most recent literature suggests a beneficial role of probiotics in the treatment of depression and anxiety, despite the existence of a substantial number of less positive findings. Given probiotics’ potential to offer novel, personalized treatment options for mood disorders, further, better targeted research in psychiatric populations is needed to address concerns about the exact mechanisms of probiotics, dosing, timing of treatment, and possible differences in outcomes depending on the severity of anxiety and depression. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:19:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-72edc2adbbd44920885aefb7c301cbb1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:19:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-72edc2adbbd44920885aefb7c301cbb12024-02-23T15:28:27ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-02-0112241110.3390/microorganisms12020411Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical TrialsErmis Merkouris0Theodora Mavroudi1Daniil Miliotas2Dimitrios Tsiptsios3Aspasia Serdari4Foteini Christidi5Triantafyllos K. Doskas6Christoph Mueller7Konstantinos Tsamakis8Neurology Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, GreeceNeurology Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, GreeceNeurology Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, GreeceNeurology Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, GreeceDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, GreeceNeurology Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, GreeceNeurology Department, Athens Naval Hospital, 11521 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UKInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UKChanges in the gut microbiome can affect cognitive and psychological functions via the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis. Probiotic supplements are thought to have largely positive effects on mental health when taken in sufficient amounts; however, despite extensive research having been conducted, there is a lack of consistent findings on the effects of probiotics on anxiety and depression and the associated microbiome alterations. The aim of our study is to systematically review the most recent literature of the last 10 years in order to clarify whether probiotics could actually improve depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results indicate that the majority of the most recent literature suggests a beneficial role of probiotics in the treatment of depression and anxiety, despite the existence of a substantial number of less positive findings. Given probiotics’ potential to offer novel, personalized treatment options for mood disorders, further, better targeted research in psychiatric populations is needed to address concerns about the exact mechanisms of probiotics, dosing, timing of treatment, and possible differences in outcomes depending on the severity of anxiety and depression.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/411probioticsanxietydepressionmicrobiomegutmicrobiota |
| spellingShingle | Ermis Merkouris Theodora Mavroudi Daniil Miliotas Dimitrios Tsiptsios Aspasia Serdari Foteini Christidi Triantafyllos K. Doskas Christoph Mueller Konstantinos Tsamakis Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials Microorganisms probiotics anxiety depression microbiome gut microbiota |
| title | Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials |
| title_full | Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials |
| title_fullStr | Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials |
| title_short | Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials |
| title_sort | probiotics effects in the treatment of anxiety and depression a comprehensive review of 2014 2023 clinical trials |
| topic | probiotics anxiety depression microbiome gut microbiota |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/411 |
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