Probiotics promote healthy levels of serotonin...the feel good neurotransmitter

Opinions about food have long been a source of contention between family, friends, and strangers. Pickles, sauerkraut, and cottage cheese are just a few examples of foods that are loved dearly by some and despised by others (see the graphic below). Those who are fans of these controversial foods may be in luck. These foods are rich in probiotics, beneficial bacteria that are instrumental in maintaining a healthy digestive system. Research suggests that gut health may have a significant effect on mental health through the gut-brain axis.(4) So could probiotics be used to improve mental health?

“Probiotics could alleviate depressive symptoms in patients with a depression diagnosis"

A probiotic is a microbe that can be isolated from a human and survive in the intestine after being safely consumed. In order to be classified as a probiotic, the microbe must also provide some benefit to the body. Foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso, and kefir contain probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. A diet rich in probiotics may relieve the symptoms of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.(5)

Like the brain, the gut also produces neurotransmitters. The digestive tract produces nearly 90% of the body’s serotonin. Cognition, memory, learning, physiological processes, and mood, are all modulated by serotonin.(6) Considering the bidirectional relationship of the gut and brain, it is hypothesized that probiotics may play a role in improving cognitive function and mood by remediating the health of the digestive tract.

A study exploring the effect of probiotics on depressive symptoms in humans concluded that “treatment with probiotics may improve symptoms associated with MDD (major depressive disorder) by increasing serotonin availability and/or decreasing levels of inflammatory markers”.(7) Another study on depressive or anxiety variables in humans concluded that “probiotics could alleviate depressive symptoms in patients with a depression diagnosis” and “probiotics may be adjunct therapies for mood or emotional disorders”. Despite promising results, additional trials in clinical psychiatric samples are needed to further explore the role of probiotics in mental health.(8)

While researchers continue to investigate the link between the gut and the brain, perhaps consider adding more pickles or yogurt to your diet. You may experience a boost in your mood, whether from the presence of probiotics or just because of a tasty snack.

by Alexandra Lopez

Sources: 1, 2, 3

FLU FACTS

• The CDC estimates that from October 1, 2022, through December 17, 2022, there have been between 190,000 and 400,000 hospitalizations and at least 12,000 deaths from the Flu in the U.S. These deaths include at least 17 children.(4)

• In contrast, in 2021, the CDC estimated there were only 100,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 5,000 flu deaths in the U.S.

• In the week ending November 26, more than 34,000 positive flu tests were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from labs around the US, as shown in the orange line on the chart below. That’s more positive flu tests than have been reported in any single week during any flu season on record, going back as far as 1997.

• It is claimed that isolating people from Covid has resulted in a far more aggressive flu season, since immunity is weak due to less exposure and there is now a greater pool of individuals that have not had the flu recently, since 2021 was a notably mild flu season.

RSV FACTS

• The CDC states that the rate of RSV infections so far this year are ten times that of last year.

• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia, usually mild in adults, but can be severe in infants and the elderly.

• 171 per 100,000 infants under the age of six months are being hospitalized currently; that's seven times the rate in 2018.

• Many children are coming down with multiple respiratory infections; including RSV, influenza, covid, rhinovirus, and others.

• Dutch and British researchers found that about 2% of all previously healthy infants have been hospitalized in 2022 before their first birthday.(5)

• There is currently no vaccine for RSV. Almost all children get this infection by the time they are two years of age. However, the cases this year are far more severe.

References: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Get prepared now for this year's flu season with Hardy Diagnostics products to help detect and protect against influenza and COVID-19.

The graph from the CDC below shows RSV detection for the state of California up to December 17. Other states are available at this link.                                     

Clostridioides difficile (formerly named Clostridium difficile, and widely known as C. diff) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe that causes life-threatening diarrhea in people who take antibiotics, are hospitalized or in nursing homes, and people with weakened immune systems.(1)

C. difficile secretes toxins TcdA and TcdB, which are responsible for causing massive damage to the gut epithelium by inducing a strong inflammatory response. Symptoms associated with C. difficile infections (CDI) range from diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, sepsis with organ failure and even death. It is estimated that C. difficile causes approximately half a million infections in the United States each year. Additionally, approximately one in six people who have had C. difficile will become re-infected in the subsequent 2-8 weeks.(2,3)

Recently, the FDA issued a warning with respect to the utilization of PPIs and risk of developing Clostridium difficile infections (CDI).

The most commonly known medications to cause CDI are antibiotics. However, available studies suggest an association and increase in risk for CDI with PPI use as well.

Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis by Trifan et al. suggest a significant association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and the risk of development of CDIs.(4) PPIs are medicines that treat gastric acid-related diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer, Helicobacter pylori infection, dyspepsia, and stress ulcers.(3) PPIs are sold by such brand names as Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, and Protonix. PPIs inhibit the hydrogen-potassium ATPase pump in gastric parietal cells, which decrease acid secretion and cause a deficiency of stomach acid.

Trifan’s meta-analysis included an initial analysis of 956 studies which involved 356,683 patients. The evidence in these studies suggest that acid suppressive therapies, such as PPIs, facilitate vegetative C. difficile survival and growth, increasing the likelihood of acquiring CDI.

Furthermore, since approximately one in six people who suffer a CDI will experience the infection again, alternative therapies are needed to help mitigate or cure recurrent CDIs. As of November 2022, FDA approved the first fecal microbiota product for the prevention of CDI recurrence in adults who have completed antibiotic treatment for recurrent CDI.(5)

Fecal microbiota therapy (FMT) facilitates restoration of the normal gut microbiome flora to prevent further CDI incidents. FMT is a procedure where healthy bacteria is taken from the feces of a carefully screened donor to be introduced to the colon of the recipient.(6) The normal flora will outcompete the C. difficile and prevent the re-infection event. The studies for the new therapy, called Rebyota, involved 978 patients who had a history of one or more occurrences of CDI. The absence of CDI diarrhea within 8 weeks of administration of Rebyota was considered a successful treatment. A statistical analysis from the studies estimated a success rate of 70.6% at preventing recurrent CDI in the Rebyota group, which was significantly higher than the placebo group (success rate of 57.5%).(5) As more research takes place to study CDIs and more treatment options emerge, individuals who suffer this unfortunate infection will have the opportunity to get their life back on track.

By Anna Klavins and Elide Herrera

References: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6