Probiotics and the Gut-Brain Axis

The study of probiotics has gained popularity in recent years, due to more and more scientific discoveries that attested their beneficial effect on the human body. Probiotics are certain species of gut bacteria that can be found mainly in the mucosal lining of our small and large intestines. They can also be found in certain fermented foods, such as kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, miso soup and others. Probiotics are known for their many positive effects on the human body, such as improving the health of the digestive system, strengthening immunity and reducing allergies. But recent studies have shown that they also produce many benefits on the gut-brain axis.

But before we go into details, what exactly is the gut-brain axis? Although it might sound strange at first, the gut-brain axis is a very useful bodily mechanism. It is, essentially, a biochemical signal exchange that takes place between our gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system, hence the name “gut-brain axis”. This process involves intestinal microbiota that has been proven to either improve, or affect our brain function. The concept of the gut-brain axis is an emerging concept that is just beginning to be studied in scientific fields, but it might be a milestone in developing new, more efficient treatment for complex central nervous system disorders.

So what role do probiotics play in this? The answer is simple: when administered correctly, probiotics improve the functioning of the gut-brain axis. The microbiota in our gut can be manipulated by probiotics and antibiotics alike, but probiotics are much safer. Studies have shown that the microbiota influences neurochemistry in conditions such as anxiety. Fortunately, the same studies have proven that probiotics are of great help in this case. When administered properly, they reduce stress and anxiety and can control depression-related behavior.

Due to the extensive research conducted in this field, there is strong evidence that microbiota can influence neurological health. It regulates brain chemistry, improves memory and diminishes stress and anxiety. These beneficial effects occur only in the case of some probiotic species, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. This suggests that, with the help of recent and future discoveries, probiotics might become a viable treatment option for neurological disorders.

There is also evidence to support the fact that the gut-brain axis might be more extensive and influential than that. Scientists have found evidence to support the gut-brain-liver axis bodily circuit, which regulates glucose levels in the liver. By regulating this exchange and the assuring our bodies a healthy amount of gut microbiota, we ca potentially treat obesity and prevent diabetes.

This is just the emerging progress that has been made in this field of study. Future, more thorough research on the concept of the gut-brain (or even gut-brain-liver) axis will surely provide us with more and more viable treatment options involving probiotics. For the moment, we can just make sure that we get our daily dose of beneficial bacteria in order to keep our bodies and healthy as we can!