Gut feelings: A randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of probiotics for depressive symptoms

Chahwan, B; Kwan, S; Isik, A; van Hemert, S; Burke, C; Roberts, L

Gut feelings: A randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of probiotics for depressive symptoms

Chahwan, B Kwan, S Isik, A van Hemert, S Burke, C

Roberts, L

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019, 253 pp. 317 - 326
Issue Date:: 2019-06-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chahwan, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kwan, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Isik, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	van Hemert, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Burke, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8917-0019	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Roberts, L https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4065-0246	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-07-01T19:04:42Z
dc.date.issued	2019-06-15	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019, 253 pp. 317 - 326	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0165-0327	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135389
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 Background: Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide; with evidence suggesting that decreased gut barrier function and inflammation are correlated with depressive symptoms. We conducted a clinical trial to determine the effect of consumption of probiotic supplements (Winclove's Ecologic® Barrier) on depressive symptoms in a sample of participants with mild to severe depression. Method: 71 participants were randomly allocated to either probiotic or placebo, which was, consumed daily over eight weeks. Pre- and post-intervention measures of symptoms and vulnerability markers of depression as well as gut microbiota composition were compared. Clinical trial participants were also compared on psychological variables and gut microbiota composition to a non-depressed group (n = 20). Results: All clinical trial participants demonstrated improvement in symptoms, suggesting non-specific therapeutic effects associated with weekly monitoring visits. Participants in the probiotic group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in cognitive reactivity compared with the placebo group, particularly in the mild/moderate subgroup. Probiotics did not significantly alter the microbiota of depressed individuals, however, a significant correlation was found between Ruminococcus gnavus and one depression metric. Limitations: There was a high attrition rate, which may be attributed to weekly monitoring visits. Additionally, modulation of the gut microbiota may need more specific testing to distinguish subtle changes. Conclusions: While microbiota composition was similar between all groups, probiotics did affect a psychological variable associated with susceptibility to depression. Further research is needed to investigate how probiotics can be utilised to modify mental wellbeing, and whether they can act as an adjunct to existing treatments.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Affective Disorders	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.097	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Psychiatry	en_US
dc.title	Gut feelings: A randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of probiotics for depressive symptoms	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	253	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1701 Psychology	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Teaching and Learning)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Graduate School of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	253	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019 Background: Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide; with evidence suggesting that decreased gut barrier function and inflammation are correlated with depressive symptoms. We conducted a clinical trial to determine the effect of consumption of probiotic supplements (Winclove's Ecologic® Barrier) on depressive symptoms in a sample of participants with mild to severe depression. Method: 71 participants were randomly allocated to either probiotic or placebo, which was, consumed daily over eight weeks. Pre- and post-intervention measures of symptoms and vulnerability markers of depression as well as gut microbiota composition were compared. Clinical trial participants were also compared on psychological variables and gut microbiota composition to a non-depressed group (n = 20). Results: All clinical trial participants demonstrated improvement in symptoms, suggesting non-specific therapeutic effects associated with weekly monitoring visits. Participants in the probiotic group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in cognitive reactivity compared with the placebo group, particularly in the mild/moderate subgroup. Probiotics did not significantly alter the microbiota of depressed individuals, however, a significant correlation was found between Ruminococcus gnavus and one depression metric. Limitations: There was a high attrition rate, which may be attributed to weekly monitoring visits. Additionally, modulation of the gut microbiota may need more specific testing to distinguish subtle changes. Conclusions: While microbiota composition was similar between all groups, probiotics did affect a psychological variable associated with susceptibility to depression. Further research is needed to investigate how probiotics can be utilised to modify mental wellbeing, and whether they can act as an adjunct to existing treatments.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135389