Probiotics to Treat Mood Disorders

According to A. Venket Rao of the University of Toronto, a recent study conducted on the impact of probiotics has opened the door to a whole new field of study between the relationship of gut micro flora and many disorders, including mental disorders. This is great news for people who would rather not take medicines that can create unwanted side effects and instead be able to manage symptoms with easy and safe probiotics. Commercially available probiotics include RGarden's L. Salivarius and Inner Garden Flora.

Fueled by years of treatment by doctors who routinely prescribe antibiotics as treatments for far too many illnesses, the average person usually only associates internal bacteria as a bad thing, but that is not the case. Our bodies - like our planet - are living, finely balanced eco-systems that have been structured by nature with self regulating systems and one of them is the necessary presence of good bacteria to ward off the more toxic and harmful bacteria that can build up and cause illness.

Now, a new relationship between the presence of good bacteria supported by Probiotic supplementation and a decrease in the symptoms of depression, anxiety and associated mental disorders is seen as "Huge" by the University research team. Good bacteria "produce compounds that get to the brain and help the brain to manage problems associated with behavioral and mood problems, such as anxiety and depression. It's breakthrough news for sufferers of C.F.S., who in addition to persistent fatigue also often suffer from debilitating problems like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction. In fact, the results to date of this research which show that digestive bacteria levels may be linked to depression and anxiety indicate a possible source of new safe, help for millions of sufferers.

In this study, the team gave 39 CFS patients either Lactobacillus casei or a placebo on a daily basis over a two month period. They found that 73 per cent of those given the probiotic experienced an increase in levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in their gut, and also experienced a significant decrease in their anxiety symptoms. Only 37.5 per cent of the placebo group showed any increase of Bifidobacteria, while less than 44% showed an increase in Lactobacillus bacteria. And there was no significant change in anxiety symptoms among the placebo group.

Not at all surprising was the finding that the Chronic Fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients in this study who received daily probiotics supplements also showed big improvements in their gastrointestinal systems. Since many patients with CFS also suffer from these disorders including such problems as irritable bowel syndrome, improvements in inflammation, bloating and gas are helpful results of taking probiotics.