How the Gut Microbiota Impacts Mental Health

 Our gut flora is one of the most diverse bacterial ecosystems within our bodies. With about 100

trillion bacteria within our gastrointestinal tract, both good and bad, the human organism has co-

evolved to live with such microbes in a way in which these interactions have fostered human

development, immunity, and nutrition. Yet, many fail to acknowledge its importance regarding

our health, especially when it comes to brain function.

Novel research studies suggest that the relationship between the brain and gut is on a

bidirectional axis - where the activity and functioning of one can affect the other. Hence, some

studies have identified certain species in the gut microbiome that produce neuroactive

compounds essential for mental stability. In a population-level study done by Jeroen Raes at

VIB, his team discovered that microbes found in the gut could produce the essential metabolite

referred to as DOPAC, which is responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter

dopamine. More specifically, it was found that microbes Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus

were commonly found in people claiming to have a higher mental quality of life compared to

those with low levels of these bacteria. Although only a few have been identified, these select

few microbes out of a sea of trillions serve as potential candidates for improved mental health

status.

Depression and other various mental illnesses are rising issues worldwide that are still not well

understood, with limited universal knowledge about the gut microbiota trailing not too far behind.

The results of recent findings have proven to be promising and allow for more opportunity

towards furthering our understanding of mental illness and the gut microbiome. Moreso, this

easily opens up a new frontier in medicine regarding probiotics, prebiotics, microbial fecal

transplants, etc. as applications for antidepressant treatments rather than typical digestive

needs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190204114617.htm

Lydia Litvak (2)

Comments

  1. Victoria FlynnSeptember 26, 2022 at 6:38 PM

    Hi Lydia, I've always found gut microbiome fascinating and was excited to see you wrote your blog on this. I absolutely agree that a healthy gut is essential to not only your mental health but your body in general. The specific fact you included about the connection of the gut biome to domaine was new to me. I had never heard of or been familiar with a direct line between microbes and a neurotransmitter. Are there any developments being made right now in medicine to better aid mental health with what we eat? Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2022 at 5:13 PM

      Hi Victoria! To answer your question, I believe that researchers are looking into using probiotics in tandem with anti-depressants/other medications to treat mood disorders which would be alternatively known as "psychobiotics." This medication of bacteria culture will hopefully benefit mental health by interacting with the microbiome. Also more specific to the culture of these bacteria, they would mainly contain anti-inflammatory properties to help subdue stress responses.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2022 at 5:13 PM

      ^Lydia Litvak

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2022 at 7:43 PM

    Hi Lydia,
    I found your post to be really interesting as I don't know much about the gut microbiome. I didn't realize how much of an impact certain bacteria had in our gut on the way our brain functions. It's fascinating how some species are responsible for producing neuroactive compounds necessary for mental stability. I would have never thought that my gut was responsible for my mental health. So little is known about the many functions of the gut microbiome, so I'm hoping that in discovering more we can later on produce effective treatments for diseases and disorders in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2022 at 10:19 AM

    Hi Lydia. I don't know much about gut microbiomes/ microbes and the effects they have on the body, so I find this post very interesting. Especially the topic in particular with mental health, I wonder why some people lack these specific microbes Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus? And why these are such big contributors to a better mental quality.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2022 at 10:24 AM

    Hi Lydia! I've always been interested in the gut microbiome so I was really excited to see that your post was about the gut. I think that the importance of gut health is not talked about enough and not a lot of people know that gut health is linked to many things. In grocery stores we see probiotics and prebiotics but I think many of us are not aware of what they do. Mental health is a prominent issue today so I think it is important to learn about it. I wonder if our diet plays a role in our mental health and if there are any ways we can change it to help with depression.
    Alissa Ngo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lydia LitvakSeptember 30, 2022 at 5:25 PM

      Hi Alissa! I definitely think that keeping up a healthy and nicely rounded diet comes into play when considering depression and mental health. Constantly eating and relying on highly processed foods and junk food from establishments like Mcdonald's or Wendy's for instance would not help one's case in subduing one's depression symptoms, as it is these foods that are the main perpetrator of inflammation within the body. Of course, if one wants to indulge in foods with added sugars and so forth it is probably fine but in moderation. The bottom line, however, when it comes to diet and mental health is to just stick to lots of plants (fruits and veggies), whole grains, seeds/nuts, and lean protein (fish). This isn't to say that a good healthy diet will cure depression, but will certainly improve its symptoms.

      Delete
  5. Gina PasqualeSeptember 28, 2022 at 1:51 PM

    This was so interesting to read. I have heard many times that keeping an overall healthy body by eating well and exercising regularly can have positive impacts on our mental well-being, but I had never heard of microbes playing a part in this. I was wondering whether most humans are born with microbes such as Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus and are later lost or if these microbes are acquired in development.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anna NiezreckiSeptember 28, 2022 at 6:43 PM

    Hi Lydia! I had no idea that this was a thing! I would have never thought that the microbes in your gut would have anything to do with mental health. Is there anything that people can practice naturally to balance the microbes in their gut naturally to promote better mental health? Could this possibly be done by eating more of one food and less of another? If there is an easy way to increase the good microbes in people's guts, then this could be life changing for a lot of people.
    -Anna Niezrecki

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2022 at 8:40 PM

    Hi Lydia! This is one of the most interesting hot-button biology topics I have read about as of late. While there has been discussion on this topic for some time, the in-depth studies and introduction of more courses on the matter are fascinating. Do you think that there are certain diets that may promote nutrients to beneficial bacteria while hindering harmful bacteria from culturing?

    - Anthony Nassar

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lydia LitvakSeptember 30, 2022 at 5:32 PM

      Hi Anthony! I just responded to Alissa's comment earlier talking about keeping a healthy diet to help improve depression symptoms and to avoid additional inflammation within the body. However, I do think that there are certain foods that can be highlighted to improve gut health overall, which may also affect mental health. Some of these include fermented foods, bananas, and lots of vegetables, which help boost the growth of good bacteria within the gut. Foods to avoid that have been commonly listed are red meats, alcohol, caffeine, and of course foods with antibiotics in them.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strain-Induced Jamming in a Spirostomum Ambiguum Cell

Spirostomum ambiguum are single-celled organisms that reside on sediment beds of brackish water habitats. These worm-like organisms range in size from 1 to 4 mm and feast on surrounding bacteria. However, there is more to meet the eye regarding this tiny aquatic organism. In a fraction of the time it takes to blink, Spirotomum ambiguum can shrink to more than half its original length. This contraction generates a gravitational force equivalent (g-force - a measure of acceleration) that is 10,000 times greater than that experienced by any other contracting cell. The energy produced is large enough to destroy the internal structures of a cell. However, this single-cell organism manages to dissipate this energy. Manu Prakash and Ray Chang of Stanford University noticed after imaging the insides of Spirostomum ambiguum cells before and after they had undergone a contraction event that their internal structures vacuoles (fluid-filled sacs) appear to entangle in the folds of a membrane-like ...
Read more

Did Corona Virus Feel Much Longer than it Actually Was? It May Have Also Changed Your Personality

 Everyone knows of those big historical events in which each person knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when they got the news. The release of the first iPhone, the announcement of the first African American president, and the national legalization of same-sex marriage are just to name a few. Endless monumental events help shape our society and give us a sense of community. Each is revolutionary in its own ways and vary per person, but some happen to make a more direct impact on all of us. Unfortunately, repeated time and time again these events are typically negative due to a trauma stress response. Coronavirus beginning 2020 is and will always be a unifying factor for every person who can recall the events. Its unique, sudden, and unpredictable nature makes it prominent in our government, healthcare, and local communities. What I’ve come to the realization of is that Coronavirus also had a drastic effect on our life order and even our personalities. In an artic...
Read more

Slimy Skincare: The Effects of Snail Mucin on Skin

If you’ve been on the right side of TikTok for a decent amount of time, you’ve definitely noticed an uptick in the popularity of snail mucin in skincare. The skincare industry never fails in shifting the goalposts for women all over the world. There is always some new fad or brand that is the “must-have” for the week and then vanishes into obscurity. Even worse, some of these fads can end up negatively impacting your skin. I definitely don’t need to remind anyone of the tragedy that was the St. Ives scrub (holy microtears). Usually, trends in beauty and skincare are driven by brands rather than particular ingredients or additives, which makes the popularity of snail mucin even more notable. Are the beauty influencers finally onto something, or is this yet another damaging trend that no one will remember in a month? A study done in May 2022 using hairless mice as a proxy for human skin showed that snail mucin does in fact lessen the effects of aging. In this study, exposure to UV rays w...
Read more