Researchers have identified how Lactobacillus, a bacterium present in fermented foods and yogurt, aids the body in stress management and may contribute to the prevention of depression and anxiety.
According to a study conducted at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, yogurt, known for its gut benefits, could also positively impact mood. The research sheds light on how Lactobacillus influences stress and mental health conditions, offering potential avenues for new therapies. Published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, the study highlights the specific role of Lactobacillus, distinguishing it from other microorganisms inhabiting our bodies, as noted by Alban Gaultier, a researcher at the university’s Department of Neuroscience.
“Our discovery illuminates how gut-resident Lactobacillus influences mood disorders by tuning the immune system,” explained Gaultier. “Our research could pave the way toward discovering much-needed therapeutics for anxiety and depression.”
The researchers focused specifically on Lactobacilli, building on prior findings suggesting its ability to reverse depression in lab mice. To understand the underlying mechanisms, the team employed a unique approach using a bacterial community called “Altered Schaedler Flora,” which includes two strains of Lactobacillus and six other bacterial strains. This approach allowed the researchers to create mice both with and without Lactobacillus without resorting to antibiotics.
The study results elucidate how Lactobacilli influence behavior and demonstrate that a deficiency in this bacterium can exacerbate depression and anxiety. Lactobacilli within the Lactobaccillacea family maintain levels of an immune mediator called interferon gamma, which regulates the body’s response to stress and helps prevent depression.
“With these results in hand, we have new tools to optimize the development of probiotics, which should speed up discoveries for novel therapies,” noted researcher Andrea R. Merchak. “Most importantly, we can now explore how maintaining a healthy level of Lactobacillus and/or interferon gamma could be investigated to prevent and treat anxiety and depression.”
