A INFLUÊNCIA DA MICROBIOTA INTESTINAL NO TRANSTORNO DEPRESSIVO: Uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

The gut-brain axis and its bidirectional interaction have been associated with the gut microbiota and the development of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. This axis modulates various key processes through the vagus nerve, including the production of microbial metabolites and immune mediators, leading to changes in neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, and behavior. In this sense, the aim of this study was to understand the relationship between gut microbiota and depressive disorder. O this end, an integrative literature review was conducted using scientific articles in Portuguese and English published between 2018 and 2023, employing the descriptors intestinal microbiota, gut-brain-microbiota axis, and depressive disorder. The search was carried out in the databases Pubmed, Science Direct, and Scielo. Eight articles were selected for analysis. The results demonstrated a connection between the brain, microbiota, and depressive disorder through the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, and immune system pathways, as well as showing that the intake of probiotics and prebiotics improves dysbiosis and depressive symptoms. Thus, the findings suggest that interventions aimed at modulating the microbiota, such as supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics, may represent a promising approach in the complementary treatment of depression, acting both in correcting dysbiosis and improving depressive symptoms. These discoveries reinforce the ongoing need for research in this area to develop more effective and personalized therapeutic strategies for managing depressive disorder.