P.233 A psychobiotic diet decreases stress and depressive mood in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Psychobiotics usually refer to live bacteria when taken in correct amount might confer some mental health benefits by altering the microbiota of the host organisms. Bacteria usually chosen for mental health should not confer any unusual immune response; hence, the bacteria most commonly used comprise Gram-positive bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus sp. as these microorganisms do not contain Lipopolysaccharide chain reducing the probability of inducing unusual immune response. With developing knowledge of human microbiome and its relation with mental health, it is evident that there is some missing link between the resident microbe and some aspect of physiology. There are many reports from animal study, where it has been proved that gut microbiota can interact with enteric nervous system as well as central nervous system via neuroimmune, neuroendocrine, neural, and humoral links. There are many evidences that prove that administration of beneficial microbes can affect numerous mental health conditions such as reducing depression, stress, and anxiety and can improve cognition, suggesting a new era of probiotics called “Psychobiotics.” These bacteria are capable of producing and delivering some neuroactive compounds such as gamma-aminobutyric acid and serotonin that is also termed “happy” chemical transmitted across brain–gut axis. Psychobiotics are known to regulate neuroimmune axes like hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, sympatho-adrenal medullary axis and the inflammatory reflex. Thus the chapter will highlight a newer aspect in the treatment of behavioral disorders by adequate and correct incorporation of beneficial microbes called psychobiotics.