Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis

Clapp et al. (2017) describe the increasing evidence showing bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and gut microbiota (referred to as the gut-brain-axis), and associating these microbiota in the gut with gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal diseases. Since dysbiosis and inflammation of the gut has been linked to the predisposition of several mental illnesses including anxiety and depression, probiotics have been proposed to potentially treat or prevent anxiety and depression due to its ability to restore normal microbial balance. The aim of this review was to discuss the development of the gut microbiota, the connection between dysbiosis with anxiety and depression, and the possible clinical applications of probiotics. [NPID: psychiatric illnesses, MGBA, gut-brain axis, gut microbiome, central nervous system, gastrointestinal diseases, GI tract, dysbiosis, anxiety, depression, microbial balance, anxiety, depression, probiotics]

Year: 2017

Reference: Clapp, M., Aurora, N., Herrera, L., Bhatia, M., Wilen, E., & Wakefield, S. (2017). Gut microbiota's effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clinics and practice, 7(4), 987. https://doi.org/10.4081/cp.2017.987

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