Association of Gut-Microbiome and mental health and effects of probiotics on psychiatric disorders: A Meta-analysis and systematic review
Main Article Content
Keywords
Anxiety, Bacteria, Depression, Gut-microbiome, Mental Health
Abstract
Background: A correlation between gut microbiome and mental health has drawn significant attention lately. The effects of microbiome microorganisms and their byproducts on disease states represent a complex and dynamic field of study. The objective of this article is to review the association of gut microbes and mental health and the effects of probiotics on psychiatric disorders, if any.
Methodology: This meta-analysis was conducted using the PRISMA standards. We have compiled the most recent advancements in the field according to human research published in this Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Results: The forest plot analysis revealed that probiotics or probiotics combined with other intervention modalities did significantly reduce some extent of mental disorders in comparison to the control group (Standardized mean difference) SMD = 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): −6.52 to 8.42, P value< 0.01.
Conclusion: Overall, the reviewed literature supports the importance of gut microbiota–brain interaction in human mental illnesses, including the impact of probiotics on mental health outcomes and brain connection.
References
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2. Coradduzza, D.; Sedda, S.; Cruciani, et al.: Age-Related Cognitive Decline, Focus on Microbiome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24:13680-10. 10.3390/ijms241813680
3. Forssten, S.D.; Ouwehand, A.C.; Griffin, S.M.; Patterson, E. One giant leap from mouse to man: The microbiota-gut-brain axis in mood disorders and translational challenges moving towards human clinical trials. Nutrients 2022, 14, 568.https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030568
4. Wu, S.X.; Li, J.; Zhou, D.D.; Xiong, R.G.; Huang, S.Y.; Saimaiti, A.; Shang, A.; Li, H.B. Possible effects and mechanisms of dietary natural products and nutrients on depression and anxiety: A narrative review. Antioxidants 2022, 11, 2132.https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11112132
5. Xiong, RG; Li, J; Cheng J, et al.: New insights into the protection of dietary components on anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders caused by contaminants and food additives. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 2023, 138:44-56. 10.1016/j.tifs.2023.06.004
6. Generoso, J.S.; Giridharan, V.V.; Lee, J.; Macedo, D.; Barichello, T: The role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric disorders. Braz. J. Psychiatry. 2021, 43:293-305. 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0987
7. Ortega, M.A.; Álvarez-Mon, M.A.; García-Montero, C.; Fraile-Martínez, Ó.; Monserrat, J.; Martinez-Rozas, L.; Rodríguez-Jiménez, R.; Álvarez-Mon, M.; Lahera, G. Microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanisms in the complex network of bipolar disorders: Potential clinical implications and translational opportunities. Mol. Psychiatry 2023. Advanced online publication.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-01964
8. Godos, J.; Currenti, W.; Angelino, D.; Mena, P.; Castellano, S.; Caraci, F.; Galvano, F.; Del Rio, D.; Ferri, R.; Grosso, G. Diet and mental health: Review of the recent updates on molecular mechanisms. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 346.https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9040346
9. Kennedy, P.J.; Murphy, A.B.; Cryan, J.F.; Ross, P.R.; Dinan, T.G.; Stanton, C: Microbiome in brain function and mental health. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 2016, 57:289-301. 10.1016/J.TIFS.2016.05.001
10. Bhatia, N.Y.; Jalgaonkar, M.P.; Hargude, A.B.; Sherje, A.P.; Oza, M.J.; Doshi, G.M: Gut-brain axis and neurological disorders-how microbiomes affect our mental health. CNS Neurol. Disord. Drug Targets. 2023, 22:1008-1030. 10.2174/1871527321666220822172039
11. Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Carola S: The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroent. 2015, 28:203-9.
12. Belkaid Y, Hand T. Role of the microbiota in immunity and inflammation. Cell 2014; 157:121-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011
13. Dinan TG, Cryan JF: Brain-gut-microbiota axis and mental health. Psychosom Med. 2017, 79:920-926. 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000519
14. Moher D, Shamseer L, Clarke M, et al.: Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Syst Rev. 2015, 4:1. 10.1186/2046-4053-4-1
15. Amir-Behghadami M, Janati A: Population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study (PICOS) design as a framework to formulate eligibility criteria in systematic reviews. Emerg Med J. 2020:387. 10.1136/emermed-2020-209567
16. Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, et al.: Updated guidance for trusted systematic reviews: a new edition of the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019:000142. 10.1002/14651858.ED000142
17. Higgins JPT, Altman DG, Gøtzsche PC, Jüni P, Moher D, Oxman AD, et al. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ. (2011) 343: d5928. doi: 10.1136/bmj. d5928. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5928
18. Mendoza C, Kraemer P, Herrera P, et al.: Clinical guidelines using the GRADE system (grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation). Rev Med Chil. 2017, 145:1463-70. 10.4067/s0034-98872017001101463
19. Austin TM, Richter RR, Sebelski CA: Introduction to the GRADE approach for guideline development: considerations for physical therapist practice. Phys Ther. 2014:1652-9. 10.2522/ptj.20130627
20. Hu G, Zhang H, Wang Y, Cong D. Non-pharmacological intervention for rehabilitation of post-stroke spasticity: a protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis. Medicine. (2021) 100: e25788. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025788
21. Pan Q, Li YQ, Guo K, et al.: Elderly Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment Exhibit Altered Gut Microbiota Profiles. J Immunol Res. 2021222021, 5578958:10.1155/2021/5578958
22. Ling Z, Jin G, Yan X, et al.: Fecal Dysbiosis and Immune Dysfunction in Chinese Elderly Patients with Schizophrenia: An Observational Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 20221, 12:886872. 10.3389/fcimb.2022.886872
23. Sheng C, Lin L, Lin H, Wang X, Han Y, Liu SL: Altered Gut Microbiota in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: The SILCODE Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021:513-526. 10.3233/JAD-210259
24. Ling Z, Cheng Y, Chen F, et al.: Changes in fecal microbiota composition and the cytokine expression profile in school-aged children with depression: A case-control study. Front Immunol. 202219, 13:964910. 10.3389/fimmu.2022.964910
25. Ma B, Liang J, Dai M, Wang J: Luo J, Zhang Z, Jing J. Altered Gut Microbiota in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 20196, 9:40. 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00040
26. Wang L, Xie Z, Li G, Li G, Liang J: Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis investigates causal associations between gut microbiota and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Microbiol. 202324, 14:1144851. 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1144851
27. Domènech L, Willis J, Alemany-Navarro M, et al.: Changes in the stool and oropharyngeal microbiome in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sci Rep. 2022, 27:1448. 10.1038/s41598-022-05480-9
28. Park M, Choi J, Lee HJ: Flavonoid-Rich Orange Juice Intake and Altered Gut Microbiome in Young Adults with Depressive Symptom: A Randomized Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2020, 18:12. 10.3390/nu12061815
29. Zhu R, Fang Y, Li H, et al.: Psychobiotic Lactobacillus plantarum JYLP-326 relieves anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms in test anxious college via modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolism. Front Immunol. 202323, 14:1158137. 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158137
30. Tanaka A, Sanada K, Miyaho K, et al.: The relationship between sleep, gut microbiota, and metabolome in patients with depression and anxiety: A secondary analysis of the observational study. PLoS One. 2023, 20:0296047. 10.1371/journal.pone.0296047
31. Schaub AC, Schneider E, Vazquez-Castellanos JF, et al.: Clinical, gut microbial and neural effects of a probiotic add-on therapy in depressed patients: a randomized controlled trial. Translational psychiatry. 2022 Jun 3. 12:227. 10.1038/s41398-022-01977-z
32. Kobayashi Y, Kuhara T, Oki M, Xiao JZ: Effects of Bifidobacterium breve A1 on the cognitive function of older adults with memory complaints: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Beneficial microbes. 2019, 28:511-20. 10.3920/BM2018.0170
33. Xiao J, Katsumata N, Bernier F, et al.: Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in improving cognitive functions of older adults with suspected mild cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 20201, 77:139-47. 10.3233/JAD-200488
34. Asaoka D, Xiao J, Takeda T, et al.: Effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in improving cognitive function and preventing brain atrophy in older patients with suspected mild cognitive impairment: results of a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 20221, 88:75-95. 10.3233/JAD-220148
35. Kobayashi Y, Kinoshita T, Matsumoto A, et al.: Bifidobacterium breve A1 supplementation improved cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: an open-label, single-arm study. The. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. 2019, 6:70-5. 10.14283/jpad.2018.32
36. Reininghaus EZ, Platzer M, Kohlhammer-Dohr A, et al.: PROVIT: supplementary probiotic treatment and vitamin B7 in depression—a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020, 8:3422. 10.3390/nu12113422
37. Lee HJ, Hong JK, Kim JK, et al.: Effects of Probiotic NVP-1704 on Mental Health and Sleep in Healthy Adults: An 8-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021, 13:2660. 10.3390/nu13082660
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Apr 3, 2025
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Goel, R., Gupta, B., Satodiya, V. N., Vala, A., Dabhi, H., & Mittal, A. (2025). Association of Gut-Microbiome and mental health and effects of probiotics on psychiatric disorders: A Meta-analysis and systematic review. Nigerian Medical Journal, 66(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.71480/nmj.v66i1.601
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Author Biography
Bhupesh Gupta, MMIMSR (Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research), Mullana, Haryana
Asst. Professor, Dept. Of Community Medicine.