The gut microbiota in development and treatment of depression

Abstract

Introduction and aim. Nowadays, almost 4% of people in the world suffer from depressive disorders, and the forecasts of further increase in incidence are alarming. The disease is debilitating and can lead to suicide, and available treatments are still imperfect. The aim of the study was to review the literature and present the potential role of the gut microbiota in the development of depression and to consider the use of prebiotics and probiotics as one of the therapeutic options in this disease. Material and methods. Review of articles published on PubMed since 2015. Analysis of the literature. The available reports point to a relationship between disturbances in the composition of the intestinal flora and the development of depressive disorders. In addition, more and more studies indicate the benefits of the influence on mood and clinical improvement, observed when using psychobiotics as an adjuvant treatment of depression, as well as monotherapy. Conclusion. Further research is needed in this area, especially in humans, to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in depression and the promising use of psychobiotics for its treatment.