Are Probiotics useful as adjuvant therapy for people with depression?

In the past, the evidence on the efficacy of probiotics in depression has been limited. This updated review and meta-analysis identified the gap and analysed all the recent trials based on the current RCTs published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. 

A randomised controlled clinical trial analysis involving 404 participants with depression aims to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in reducing depressive symptoms among people with clinical depression, comparing their effectiveness as adjunctive therapy versus stand-alone treatment.

The review offered stronger evidence to support the clinical use of probiotics in depressed populations and provided insight into the mode of administration more likely to yield antidepressant effects.

The key findings of this study are:

• The meta-analysis of seven studies demonstrated that probiotics effectively reduced depressive symptoms when used alongside antidepressant medication (SMD = 0.83, 95% CI 0.49–1.17).
• When administered as a stand-alone treatment, probiotics did not yield significant benefits (SMD = -0.02, 95% CI -0.34–0.30).

These results of these findings provide more substantial evidence supporting the use of probiotics as adjunctive therapy for depressed populations, shedding light on the most effective mode of administration and emphasising the importance of incorporating probiotics alongside antidepressant medication. Healthcare professionals may enhance treatment outcomes and improve the well-being of their patients.

By leveraging probiotics potential, healthcare providers can enhance their treatment strategies for individuals with depression.

In conclusion, as this review included a small number of studies, it is noted that further research is needed to understand these mechanisms and their impact on depressive symptoms fully. The potential mechanisms of action, like modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and C-reactive protein (CRP), also required further research.

“Future research should further investigate the mechanisms of action and explore optimal dosage and treatment duration “, the author added.

Reference;

Nikolova, V.L.; Cleare, A.J.; Young, A.H.; Stone, J.M. Updated Review and Meta-Analysis of Probiotics for the Treatment of Clinical Depression: Adjunctive vs. Stand-Alone Treatment. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 647.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10040647