Psycho-Microbiology, a New Frontier for Probiotics: An Exploratory Overview

Abstract

Probiotics are gradually gaining importance in the field of psychiatry in the form of psychobiotics. Psychobiotics’ studies examine the existing relationship between gut microbiota and mental phenomena; the intake of certain strains of probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, for example, allow the gut microbial system to be modified in order to provide benefits at the psychic, immune, hormonal, and mental levels. Those who suffer from forms of depression, anxiety disorders, chronic stress, low mood, but also people who do not suffer from such disorders, can therefore benefit from the use of psychobiotics. Thanks to probiotics, neurochemicals can in fact be produced within the gut microbiota and interact with receptors of the enteric nervous system that innervate the entire gastrointestinal tract. Once they enter the portal circulation, these substances go on to influence components of the nervous system and ultimately the brain, through what is called the gut–brain axis. This article proposes an exploratory overview of the proven effects of probiotics on brain activity and psycho-related diseases, focusing on clinical studies and measurable outcomes. The search was conducted using two different online tools: ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.