The Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Probiotics on Depression
Clinical Results From an Open-Label Pilot Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15517693 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Caroline Wallace (0009-0000-1462-6213, Queen's University, corresponding author), Caroline J K Wallace, Roumen Milev (0000-0001-6884-171X, Queen's University), Roumen V Milev |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Pages | 618279-618279 |
| Publication date | 2021-02-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.618279 |
| PMID | 33658952 |
| OpenAlex | W3131336181 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 28 |
Background: A growing body of research has shown that consumption of probiotics can improve symptoms associated with mood and anxiety disorders through activity of the gut-brain axis. However, the effects of probiotics have yet to be tested in a clinical sample of treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The aim of this 8-week, open-label pilot study is to examine changes in depressive symptoms before and after the introduction of a probiotic supplement in 10 treatment-naïve MDD patients and to provide data on the feasibility of conducting a larger double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in the same patient population. Here we report on the clinical outcome measures of the study. Methods: Participants recruited from the community in Kingston, Ontario, Canada consumed a probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 (CEREBIOME ® ) at a dose of 3 × 10 9 CFU once per day for 8 weeks. Clinical symptoms of depression were measured using a validated battery of clinical scales and self-report questionnaires (CAN-BIND protocol). Data was collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Results: Significant improvements in affective clinical symptoms were observed at week 4 and were sustained at week 8. Significant improvements in subjective sleep quality were observed by week 8. No side effects or adverse effects associated with the probiotic supplement were observed. Conclusions: The findings from this study support the existing evidence in this emerging field for probiotics having a role in alleviating symptoms of depression in treatment-naïve, moderately depressed patients and indicate that the probiotic supplement is safe and well-tolerated in this population. However, further comprehensive studies are required to draw conclusions
Adverse effect · Alternative medicine · Anxiety · Bifidobacterium · Bifidobacterium longum · Clinical trial · Depression (economics · Lactobacillus · Major depressive disorder · Mood · Mood disorders · Placebo · Population · Probiotic · Psychiatry · Randomized controlled trial · Tolerability · Diet and metabolism studies · Gut microbiota and health · Medicine · Tryptophan and brain disorders · Internal Medicine
Gut–brain axis
A Scale for the Assessment of Hedonic Tone the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale
A New Depression Scale Designed to be Sensitive to Change
Perspectives on perceived stigma and self-stigma in adult male patients with depression
The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (Mini). A short diagnostic structured interview
The 16-Item quick inventory of depressive symptomatology (Qids), clinician rating (Qids-C), and self-report (Qids-SR)
The Pittsburgh sleep quality index
A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Effects of Probiotics on Cognitive Reactivity, Mood, and Sleep Quality
| Citations per year | 0.67 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2026 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |