Mind Your Gut Health

Consequences Of Your Gut Health Can Contribute To Cognitive Behaviors.

The microbes in your gut are involved directly and indirectly to produce several neurotransmitters (messengers in the nervous system). Your bacteria can stimulate or produce these molecules, which then can be interpreted by our nervous system through different mechanisms.

How has gut health and behavior been studied?

In Paris, France, scientists at the Institut Pasteur discovered that stress-induced dysbiosis (imbalance of the gut) has consequences to rodent behavior.  One potential mechanism demonstrated that the gut microbiome can induce depressive-like behaviors in mice by altering the central nervous system's production of important signaling molecules. These molecules, a special kind of fats, act as messengers for the nervous system, and by affecting its production the gut microbiome is now recognized as an important player in disorders like depression and in our overall mood. 

Researchers also found out that administering a specific probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum, reversed the depressive-like behaviors in mice. Lactobacillus plantarum

has also proven to provide benefits to our bodies by fighting off infections, strengthen our immune systems, accelerate the health process of fungal infections, and reduce certain types of sepsis (infections).

 Overall, this work shows that alterations in the gut microbiome, and specific therapies aimed to restore its balance, can alter behavior in animal models, opening interesting possibilities in the treatment and diagnosis of depressive disorders in humans once the research is complete.

Your gut microbiome diversity may also affect how you sleep.

Current research has also indicated that a more diverse gut microbiome composition is correlated with better sleep quality at night. This takes place due to the brain-gut-microbiome axis, the connection between the microorganisms in our gut and brain. 

A study conducted by Nova Southeastern University and Halmos College of Natural Science and Oceanography found a link between the human gut microbiome and sleep quality. So far they have found total microbiome diversity was positively correlated with increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time. In addition, they found negative correlations with wake after sleep onset. This research has allowed scientists to pinpoint which bacteria provide positive contributions to our sleep patterns. For example,  their analysis of microbiome composition revealed that within phyla richness of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were positively correlated with sleep efficiency.

Want to learn more about which bacteria may affect your mood?

Psomagen's Gene & GutBiome at-home testing kit provides users with a unique result report that shows users which bacteria may cause changes in your mood and it can also tell you how much of this bacteria may be present in your gut!

References:

• Chevalier, G., Siopi, E., Guenin-Macé, L. et al. Effect of gut microbiota on depressive-like behaviors in mice is mediated by the endocannabinoid system. Nat Commun 11, 6363 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19931-2
• “Researched Benefits of L. Plantarum.” Lactobacillus Plantarum Benefits & Side Effects, Probiotics.org, 2021, probiotics.org/l-plantarum/.
• https://www.psychcongress.com/article/imbalance-gut-microbiota-causes-depressive-behaviors-rodent-study
• Smith, Robert P et al. “Gut microbiome diversity is associated with sleep physiology in humans.” PloS one vol. 14,10 e0222394. 7 Oct. 2019, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0222394
• https://psychology.nova.edu/news-events/2019/cop-gutsleep.html