Can You Treat Anxiety With Probiotics?

Gut dysbiosis is increasingly considered a contributor to an array of health-related issues, including mental health issues. For example, poor gut health, as well as inflammation of the gut, have been closely associated with anxiety. (Clapp, Aurora, Herrera, Bhatia, Wilen, Wakefield, 2017)

Fortunately, probiotics, as part of a holistic healthcare program, may provide relief.

We discuss the science behind probiotics and anxiety below, as well as detail specific strains.

However, if you and your healthcare provider agree probiotics are right for you, we recommend:

• Life Extension FlorAssist Mood
• Yakult Probiotic Drink
• Xymogen Probiomax 350DF

The Link Between Anxiety and the Gut

The health of your gut can directly impact your mental health — largely due to the gut-brain axis. The gut communicates with the brain via the enteric nervous system, also known as the second brain. (Furness, Callaghan, Rivera, Cho, 2014)

Specifically, the enteric nervous system communicates with the central nervous system through the vagus nerve — the main line of communication between the gut and the brain.

How does this impact mental health, though?

The gut is home to an estimated 100 trillion microorganisms and up to 1,000 species of bacteria. When the gut is not healthy, it impacts our well-being. This is because the gut is involved in a wide variety of biological processes and communicates with the brain.

95% of serotonin is produced by nerves and bacteria inside the gut (although most of that serotonin is used by the gut for functions such as peristalsis). This partly explains why a range of mental health issues can stem from an imbalanced gut microbiota — or dysbiosis. (Martin, Osadchiy, Kalani, Mayer, 2018)

There are four ways dysbiosis contributes to anxiety and other mental health disorders:

• Influencing our stress response
• Through the development of leaky gut
• As a source of chronic inflammation
• Through the production of peptides, which can be harmful

Risk Factors and Symptoms

Although dysbiosis can occur almost anywhere in or on the body, gut dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance of good to bad bacteria within the gut. Gut dysbiosis can be the result of the following environmental factors:

• A poor diet consisting of too much sugar and fatty foods
• Consuming foods that haven’t been appropriately washed and still have pesticides on them
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Taking antibiotics
• Chronic stress, which can weaken the immune system
  

Common symptoms of gut dysbiosis are:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Yeast infections
• Bloating
• Gas
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Sugar cravings

8 Probiotics That Help With Anxiety

Gut dysbiosis is easy to treat with probiotics. However, these are not just any probiotics. These probiotics are often coined as psychobiotics. When taken in adequate quantities, they can benefit people suffering from a range of psychiatric disorders. (Dinan, Stanton, Cryan, 2013)

Research shows that these probiotics can improve anxiety by:

• Stimulating the vagus nerve
• Increasing the production of neurotransmitters
• Reducing stress hormones such as cortisol
• Reducing chronic inflammation
• Getting rid of bad bacteria
• Increasing nutrient absorption
  

The following eight probiotic species have been shown in numerous human and animal studies to help treat anxiety:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Research has shown that supplementing with this probiotic species reduces anxiety. (Mohammadi, Jazayeri, Khosravi-Darani, Solati, Mohammadpour, Asemi, Adab, Djalali, Tehrani-Doost, Hosseini, Eghtesadi, 2016)

This is done by changing the functioning of GABA receptors in the brain. (Leung, Thuret, 2015) This species of probiotic can often be found in yogurt, kefir, unpasteurized milk, and semi-hard cheeses.

Bifidobacterium longum

Researchers have found that Bifidobacterium longum reduces cortisol levels and helps to alleviate numerous psychological side effects such as anxiety, paranoia, and obsessive behaviors and thoughts. (Messaoudi, Lalonde, Violle, Javelot, Desor, Nejdi, Bisson, Rougeot, Pichelin, Cazaubiel, Cazaubiel, 2011)

In animal studies, Bifidobacterium longum significantly reduced behaviors linked to anxiety. (Savignac, Tramullas, Kiely, Dinan, Cryan, 2015)

Lactobacillus plantarum

One study showed this probiotic to not only reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, but it also significantly reduced patients’ anxiety. (Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Llop, Suárez, Alvarez, Abreu, Espadaler, Serra, 2014)

This is because Lactobacillus plantarum increases dopamine and serotonin while lowering cortisol as well as reducing inflammation. You can get Lactobacillus plantarum by eating fermented vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut.

Lactobacillus helveticus

This species of probiotic reduces cortisol and anxiety. It can even reduce obsessive-compulsive thoughts. In one study, Lactobacillus helveticus was found to treat anxiety better than antidepressants.

It was also able to reduce cortisol and increase serotonin levels. (Liang, Wang, Hu, Luo, Li, Wu, Duan, Jin, 2015)

This strain of probiotic is often found in cheeses.

‍Lactobacillus casei

This probiotic contains both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In one human study, it was shown to reduce anxiety symptoms and chronic fatigue in patients significantly. (Rao, Bested, Beaulne, et al., 2009)

Lactobacillus fermentum

This probiotic reduces anxiety, especially in those who have used antibiotics. Research has shown it to reduce inflammation and reverse psychological issues that are a result of antibiotic use such as anxiety. (Wang, Hu, Liang, Li, Wu, Wang, Jin, 2015)

Bifidobacterium breve

This probiotic has been found to reduce anxiety in mice. It was also found to improve cognition. (Savignac, Kiely, Dinan, Cryan, 2014)

Galacto-oligosaccharides

This is a prebiotic. It's been shown to decrease cortisol secretion dramatically. (Schmidt, Cowen, Harmer, Tzortzis, Errington, Burnet, 2015)

This prebiotic was also shown to reduce anxiety and improve the quality of life in those with irritable bowel syndrome. (Silk, Davis, Vulevic, Tzortzis, Gibson, 2009)

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