[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Psychobiotics are defined as probiotics that confer mental health benefits to the host when ingested. psychobiotics could be considered as a viable option to both look after and restore mental health, without undesired secondary effects.

It is common to find both intestinal and mental disorders coexisting in the same individual. There is evidence that suggests that enteric infections can cause both depression and anxiety.

It has been found that these bacteria provide their benefits through the enteric nervous system or the immune system’s stimulation. This can happen in three different ways, first, by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress response and reducing systemic inflammation; second, by a direct effect on the immune system; third, by the secretion of molecules such as neurotransmitters, proteins, and short fatty acids chains [14].

Depression and anxiety are sometimes accompanied by other diseases. For instance, a strong link between type 2 diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety has been identified, and the association of the gut–brain axis in the development of these disorders has been thoroughly elucidated.

The microbiome can produce a range of neuroactive compounds. Some neurochemicals that have been isolated from gut bacteria are gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine, which may affect the brain activity directly.

Yunes et al. (2019) identified that both Lactobacillus plantarum 90sk and Bifidobacterium adolescentis 150 can produce relatively high amounts of GABA.

the consumption of probiotic formulation significantly decreased serum insulin levels. The psychobiotic potential of this specific formulation could attributed to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of probiotics, which prevents the production of free radicals and pro-inflammatory substances that promote the demyelination in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis [72].

psychobiotic supplementation significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in the serum of early-life stressed mice.


Fermentation of food and beverages by probiotic strains, which are included in dietary practices, have been demonstrated to have potential health benefits not only by protecting the intestinal barrier, improving nutritional status, or limiting the growth of pathogens, but also by influencing brain health with mechanisms of action such as the production of neurotransmitters, direct activation of neural pathways between gut and brain, modulating neurotrophic chemicals, and showing analgesic properties [76].

Results demonstrated that fermented food consumption was negatively correlated with social anxiety, indicating that those who consume more fermented foods have lower social anxiety [77].

After 28 days of consumption of the black soybean fermented milk, rats were subjected to a forced swimming test. Results showed that the fermented soy-based milk enriched in GABA had an antidepressant effect similar to that of fluoxetine, a common antidepressant drug [80].

Fermented rice bran inhibited a major change in weight of the adrenal, thymus, and spleen on rats, and the swimming time of the mice consuming the fermented rice bran was enhanced significantly from that of the control group on day 15 [87].



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2022 08:58PM by Panchito.

So there's Prebiotics, Probiotics and now Psychobiotics. Ok. I don't trust fermented foods anyway, that they're so great for us - yeast, candida and all that. If you have a mold problem, whatever.

There are bad and good. Some good become bad if in excess. It is trial an error. But the reward can be significant once you find it.

Miso is a healthful food. Maybe the salt somehow moderates any unhealthful aspects of fermented foods?

Anyway, I wonder why there's more and more fermented herbs and supplements, etc. to be found in the health food stores. Here is a short extract from the propaganda:

The difference between fermented supplements and those that are unfermented is that fermentation can make the nutrients easier for the body to digest and, therefore, can allow the body to more easily absorb the vitamin benefits.Comparing it once again to the normal process of fermentation in foods. Let’s look at milk: When milk is fermented, the lactose breaks down into simpler components. Therefore, some people who are lactose intolerant are still able to digest yogurt without a problem. Fermented supplements act similarly in the body, allowing the body to digest them more easily and maximize the nutritional benefits.

[www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com]

Just my opinion, but I think they have some nerve comparing the herbs which have been used for millenia in their un-fermented form, with non-fermented milk. Milk is notoriously difficult for humans to digest and understandably people in various parts of the world came up with the idea of fermentation, which (if you are a dairy consumer) is definitely a better way to ingest it.

But herbs? Ashwagandha? I think the issue which should be discussed is - why are so many people having digestive issues nowadays? This is an ominous sign. How about fixing digestion?

Milk is bad. It has the protein A1. The digestive issues could be from pesticides that disrupt the microbiota. Dietary choices matter too. Saturated fat promotes negative gram bactaeria which in turn leaks out (endotoximia) and creates general inflammation.