According to a new study recently published in Translational Psychiatry, a daily Probiotic supplement may aid in decreasing depression in people taking a prescription antidepressant.
Almost 50 people participated in this 31 day study performed on inpatients at the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel Switzerland. 21 participants were given a Probiotic in addition to their antidepressant and 26 participants received a placebo. Participants were given a range of tests at the beginning of the study, at the end of the study and finally four weeks after the completion of the study.
All participants experienced a reduction in depressive symptoms, however, the Probiotic group showed greater improvements when compared with the placebo group. In the Probiotic group there was a 55% remission rate seen in the participants compared with a 40% remission rate in the placebo group. Additionally Probiotic participants had healthier intestinal flora compositions. Stool samples were used to show an increase in lactic acid bacteria, which appeared to co-occur with reduced depression symptoms. It seems good bacteria helped normalize emotional processing since this effect was not seen in the placebo group. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine how certain brain regions responded to Probiotic supplementation.
Researchers concluded that these findings highlight the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in major depressive disorder (MDD) and highlight the potential of Probiotics in improving the effectiveness of current medical treatments.
Further studies are needed.
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