Abstract
BackgroundGut microbiota-based therapeutic strategies, such as probiotic and prebiotic preparations, may benefit mental health. However, commonly consumed fermented and prebiotic-containing foods have not been well-tested. The aim of the present study was to determine whether consumption of fermented food and food-derived prebiotics is associated with cognitive performance, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in psychiatrically healthy medical students under psychological stress.MethodsThe study protocol with data analysis plan was prospectively registered. Food consumption was evaluated with a 7-day dietary record. Cognitive performance was modeled with academic examination performance in relation to subject knowledge. Pre-exam depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively.ResultsIn total, 372 medical students (22.7 ± 1.1 years of age, 66% female) completed the study. No relationship was observed between cognitive performance under stress and either fermented food (adjusted β 0.02, 95% CI −0.07–0.11, p = 0.63) or food-derived prebiotics consumption (adjusted β −0.00, 95% CI −0.09–0.09, p = 0.99). High intake of fermented food was associated with more severe depressive (adjusted β 0.11, 95% CI 0.01–0.20, p = 0.032) and anxiety symptoms under stress (adjusted β 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.22, p = 0.0065); however, no such link was observed for food-derived prebiotics (adjusted β 0.03, 95% CI −0.07–0.13, p = 0.50 and −0.01, 95% CI −0.11–0.08, p = 0.83, for depression and anxiety, respectively).ConclusionsUnder psychological stress in medical students, consumption of fermented food and food-derived prebiotics appears to be not associated with cognitive performance. High intake of fermented food, but not food-derived prebiotics, may be associated with severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The safety of fermented food in this regard therefore requires further clarification.
Highlights
Cognitive functioning is a major keystone of humanity
Human cognition is often endangered in multiple domains: seniors may suffer from dementia, and neuropsychiatric patients manifest some degree of cognitive decline, which frequently accompanies depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and epilepsy
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether consumption of fermented food and food-derived prebiotics is associated with cognitive performance under stress in psychiatrically healthy medical students
Summary
Cognitive functioning is a major keystone of humanity. A specific constellation of our cognitive abilities (including attention, memory, problem solving, reasoning, or planning, etc.) enabled functioning in social groups, adopting to ever-changing environment and have driven our civilization to unprecedented development [1]. A threat response to a stressor is capable of impairing memory retrieval, as highlighted in a cold pressor test in healthy young adults [11], and attention being redirected toward the stressor [12, 13]. This decrease in cognitive functioning may be harmful for people operating in challenging conditions such as emergency department staff or students taking an examination. The aim of the present study was to determine whether consumption of fermented food and foodderived prebiotics is associated with cognitive performance, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in psychiatrically healthy medical students under psychological stress
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