Posted on 05/17/2011 9:18:45 AM PDT by decimon
McMaster research finds link between gut bacteria and behavior
Hamilton, ON (May 17, 2011) - For the first time, researchers at McMaster University have conclusive evidence that bacteria residing in the gut influence brain chemistry and behaviour.
The findings are important because several common types of gastrointestinal disease, including irritable bowel syndrome, are frequently associated with anxiety or depression. In addition there has been speculation that some psychiatric disorders, such as late onset autism, may be associated with an abnormal bacterial content in the gut.
"The exciting results provide stimulus for further investigating a microbial component to the causation of behavioural illnesses," said Stephen Collins, professor of medicine and associate dean research, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Collins and Premysl Bercik, assistant professor of medicine, undertook the research in the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute.
The research appears in the online edition of the journal Gastroenterology.
For each person, the gut is home to about 1,000 trillium bacteria with which we live in harmony. These bacteria perform a number of functions vital to health: They harvest energy from the diet, protect against infections and provide nutrition to cells in the gut. Any disruption can result in life-threatening conditions, such as antibiotic-induced colitis from infection with the "superbug" Clostridium difficile.
Working with healthy adult mice, the researchers showed that disrupting the normal bacterial content of the gut with antibiotics produced changes in behaviour; the mice became less cautious or anxious. This change was accompanied by an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has been linked, to depression and anxiety.
When oral antibiotics were discontinued, bacteria in the gut returned to normal. "This was accompanied by restoration of normal behaviour and brain chemistry," Collins said.
To confirm that bacteria can influence behaviour, the researchers colonized germ-free mice with bacteria taken from mice with a different behavioural pattern. They found that when germ-free mice with a genetic background associated with passive behaviour were colonized with bacteria from mice with higher exploratory behaviour, they became more active and daring. Similarly, normally active mice became more passive after receiving bacteria from mice whose genetic background is associated with passive behaviour.
While previous research has focused on the role bacteria play in brain development early in life, Collins said this latest research indicates that while many factors determine behaviour, the nature and stability of bacteria in the gut appear to influence behaviour and any disruption , from antibiotics or infection, might produce changes in behaviour. Bercik said that these results lay the foundation for investigating the therapeutic potential of probiotic bacteria and their products in the treatment of behavioural disorders, particularly those associated with gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
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The research was funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC).
For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Veronica McGuire Media Relations, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University (905) 525-9140, ext. 22169 vmcguir@mcmaster.ca
Word ping.
Probiotics get things moving on through. The less, uh, bad stuff, the better.
Probiotics and fiber. Probiotics kill off and balance bad bacteria. Fiber gets the crap out.
Ping!
This gets complex in a hurry. This is because the body is interactive with the 300-1000 different kinds of bacteria in the gut, not counting an unknown number of viruses and other microorganisms and parasites.
Fortunately, the vast amount of area taken by the bacteria is mostly among only 30-40 different kinds. So immune interaction with these is thought to be the most important.
While all sorts of stress can cause IBS, including hot pepper spices and mustard, it was recently discovered that a commonly used natural medicine for it had a pharmaceutical component that soothed the irritated cells in the gut responsible for IBS.
Common peppermint. Unfortunately, the researches did not specify what kind of peppermint was used, such as leaf, root, or extract; or how it was used. Though the assumption is orally.
Importantly, soothing the cells responsible for IBS does not address the root cause of the IBS, whether it is bacterial, or caused by other factors.
bump
Agree when faced with anxiety use self control.
Thanks! I needed that reminder to order more probiotics! :-)
Is that more or less than 1 bazillion?
Between a bazillion and a beryllium.
It's not due to bacterial content of the gut, it's caused by the antibiotic. According to the article posted here, the two variables: bacteria and antibiotic are confounded.
The bowels are the seat of the personality! We now know what they knew in the 1600s, maybe before. Yay, science.
Snerk.... :-P
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