Probiotics and the Microbiome: Clinical Intervention Trial for Anxiety and Depression

Summary

The proposed project will investigate the effects of probiotics on anxiety and associated psychological and physiological factors in humans. The therapeutic potential of probiotics for reducing anxiety and other factors associated with a disrupted microbiome will be assessed in a double-blind placebo-crossover design. Based on the research findings to date, it is hypothesized that probiotics will reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Timeline

Start

2012-08

Primary completion

2013-10

Completion

2014-04

Publications

• Background Dominguez-Bello MG, Costello EK, Contreras M, Magris M, Hidalgo G, Fierer N, Knight R. Delivery mode shapes the acquisition and structure of the initial microbiota across multiple body habitats in newborns. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jun 29;107(26):11971-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1002601107. Epub 2010 Jun 21.
• Background Harmsen HJ, Wildeboer-Veloo AC, Raangs GC, Wagendorp AA, Klijn N, Bindels JG, Welling GW. Analysis of intestinal flora development in breast-fed and formula-fed infants by using molecular identification and detection methods. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000 Jan;30(1):61-7. doi: 10.1097/00005176-200001000-00019.
• Background Hooper LV, Littman DR, Macpherson AJ. Interactions between the microbiota and the immune system. Science. 2012 Jun 8;336(6086):1268-73. doi: 10.1126/science.1223490. Epub 2012 Jun 6.
• Background Forsythe P, Sudo N, Dinan T, Taylor VH, Bienenstock J. Mood and gut feelings. Brain Behav Immun. 2010 Jan;24(1):9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.05.058. Epub 2009 May 28.
• Background Bienenstock J. Commensal communication to the brain: pathways and behavioral consequences. Microb Ecol Health Dis. 2012 Aug 24;23. doi: 10.3402/mehd.v23i0.19007. eCollection 2012. No abstract available.
• Background Bravo JA, Forsythe P, Chew MV, Escaravage E, Savignac HM, Dinan TG, Bienenstock J, Cryan JF. Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Sep 20;108(38):16050-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1102999108. Epub 2011 Aug 29.
• Background Antunes LC, Han J, Ferreira RB, Lolic P, Borchers CH, Finlay BB. Effect of antibiotic treatment on the intestinal metabolome. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Apr;55(4):1494-503. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01664-10. Epub 2011 Jan 31.

Drugs

Indications