The benefits of probiotics (and prebiotics) are constantly touted for good gut health—which in turn affects overall wellness.
In a recent article published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, a group of researchers explored a series of studies from 2003 to 2019 on the potential therapeutic contribution of pre- and probiotics in adults with depression and/or anxiety disorders. Through their review, they concluded that probiotic supplements—either alone or in combination with prebiotics—may be linked to measurable reductions in depression.
The researchers suggest that probiotics may help direct the action of tryptophan, a chemical thought to be important in the gut-brain axis in psychiatric disorders. But they also note that pre- and probiotic therapy warrants further investigation relating to patients with clinically recognized anxiety disorders.
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