Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis
Abstract
The bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and gut microbiota, referred to as the gut-brain-axis, has been of significant interest in recent years. Increasing evidence has associated gut microbiota to both gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal diseases. Dysbiosis and inflammation of the gut have been linked to causing several mental illnesses including anxiety and depression, which are prevalent in society today. Probiotics have the ability to restore normal microbial balance, and theref...
Efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs in depression: A meta-analysis
Abstract
We conducted this meta-analysis of double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials to estimate the efficacy of
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in the improvement of depression. We applied a systematic bibliographic search in PubMed and EMBASE for articles published prior to 20 December 2017. This meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 and R 3.4.3, and means and standard deviations were calculated in fixed- or random-effects models ...
The role of diet in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease
Abstract
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Although the etiopathogenesis of IBD is largely unknown, it is widely thought that diet has a crucial role in the development and progression of IBD. Epidemiological and genetic association studies have identified a few promising dietary and genetic risk factors. These preliminary studies have promted significant interest in investigating the ...
Depressive symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of comparative studies
Abstract
Depression is common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the reported prevalence across different studies is inconsistent. This meta-analysis systematically examined the presence and severity of depressive symptoms in patients with IBS. Two investigators independently performed a literature search. The pooled depressive symptom severity was calculated using a random effects model. Subgroup, sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were conducted to examine the ...
Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour
Abstract | Recent years have witnessed the rise of the gut microbiota as a major topic of research interest in biology. Studies are revealing how variations and changes in the composition of the gut microbiota influence normal physiology and contribute to diseases ranging from inflammation to obesity. Accumulating data now indicate that the gut microbiota also communicates with the CNS — possibly through neural, endocrine and immune pathways — and thereby influences brain function and behaviour. ...
The aging gut microbiome and its impact on host immunity
Abstract
The microbiome plays a fundamental role in the maturation, function, and regulation of the host-immune system from birth to old age. In return, the immune system has co-evolved a mutualistic relationship with trillions of beneficial microbes residing our bodies while mounting efficient responses to fight invading pathogens. As we age, both the immune system and the gut microbiome undergo significant changes in composition and function that correlate with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and reduced vaccinat...
Gut Microbiota Regulation of Tryptophan Metabolism in Health and Disease
The gut microbiota is a crucial actor in human physiology. Many of these effects are mediated by metabolites
that are either produced by the microbes or derived from the transformation of environmental or host
molecules. Among the array of metabolites at the interface between these microorganisms and the host is
the essential aromatic amino acid tryptophan (Trp). In the gut, the three major Trp metabolism pathways
leading to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), kynurenine (Kyn), and indole derivatives are under the ...
