A new study suggests that there may be an effective alternative to medication for the treatment of depression: probiotic bacteria found in yogurt.
Researchers found that Lactobacillus - "friendly" bacteria present in live-cultured yogurt - reversed depressive-like behavior in mice by altering their gut microbiome, the population of microorganisms that reside in the intestines.
The study authors - from the University of Virginia School of Medicine - believe it is possible that the probiotic could do the same for humans.
The big hope for this kind of research is that we won't need to bother with complex drugs and side effects when we can just play with the microbiome," says lead researcher Alban Gaultier, Ph.D., of the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia at Virginia.
"It would be magical just to change your diet, to change the bacteria you take, and fix your health - and your mood," he adds.
An increasing number of studies have indicated that the gut microbiome plays a significant role in mental health. Research published in 2014, for example, found that probiotics - which boost the abundance of friendly gut bacteria - reduced anxiety and stress in adults.
Source:Medical News Today
Dr. Nadira Mehriban
Assistant Professor
Dept. Of Public Health
