A few years ago, the psychiatry explores the gut-brain axis, that is, the way in which bacteria and other microorganisms from the intestinal microbiota positively or negatively influence the full functioning of the brain. Dysbiosis, on the other hand, is different. It is commonly associated with cases of depression. Understand!
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For this reason, the largest research ever conducted on the subject was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications and further explored the relationship between the gut microbiome and depression.
Gut-brain axis, gut microbiome and depression
Did you know that intestinal bacteria are the biggest producers of serotonin in the human body?
Yes, this hormone known as the “happiness hormone” is a neurotransmitter that is often lacking in patients with depression. That is why scientists have increasingly deepened the study that analyzes this disease and the imbalance in the activity of bacteria. Learn more about the search:
Who developed the study?
To date, this scientific research is the most extensive ever conducted on this subject. It was developed at the research center of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Those involved used fecal microbiome analyzes of 3,211 people of different ethnicities.
Common factor among the analyzed microbiomes
According to the authors of the study, bacteria of the genus Eggerthella; Subdoligranulum; Coprococcus; Sellimonas; Lachnoclostridium; Hungatella; Ruminococcaceae; Lachnospiraceae UCG-001; Eubacterium ventriosum and those from the Ruminococcus gauvreauii group are closely related to the microbial taxa that significantly influence depression.
What do these bacteria do?
They participate – directly or indirectly – in the synthesis of glutamate, serotonin, butyrate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which are essential neurotransmitters for the prevention of cases of depression and which are associated with neuroplasticity, learning, memory and well-being.
For this reason, dysbiosis – that is, an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota – can be a risk factor for the disease that is as important as others, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.
