Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

nyxnars t1_ja2y6im wrote

Hasn't a link between the gut biome and humans mental state been proven already?

408

NeitherCook5241 t1_ja3skha wrote

There is a connection for sure, but it is super complex and there is a lot more to discover about the biome and mental health. Scientists are beginning to view the biome as an organ due to its ability to produce neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are produced (at least partially) in the gut. Many antidepressants that are prescribed are SSRIs, or selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors, which basically increase the availability of serotonin in the brain. By eating foods that foster serotonin production in the gut, theoretically more serotonin would be available for the brain, but it is not a totally linear correlation, as serotonin in the gut does not necessarily make it to the brain. However eating healthier (lots of plants, cultured foods, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids) is associated with improved gut and mental health. Eating fewer processed foods is also associated with better gut and mental health. It’s interesting though that many people eat comfort food to cope with grief/stress/trauma and then feel guilty about it (myself included). There’s also research that shows cortisol (a stress hormone) can negatively impact gut health, which may be why some people feel the need to evacuate their bowls when they’re scared (colloquial known as “shitting one’s pants”). It is interesting to think that all these little microbes, hormones, and neurotransmitters are somehow partially pulling the strings in our decision making, and yet the compilation of this molecular symphony is perceived as free will. This concludes my ted talk.

273

peer-reviewed-myopia t1_ja6fguo wrote

>By eating foods that foster serotonin production in the gut, theoretically more serotonin would be available for the brain, but it is not a totally linear correlation, as serotonin in the gut does not necessarily make it to the brain.

Serotonin produced in the gut does not make it to the brain. Serotonin that circulates in the periphery functions more like a hormone and does not cross the blood-brain barrier to impact "serotonin available for the brain".

​

>There’s also research that shows cortisol (a stress hormone) can negatively impact gut health, which may be why some people feel the need to evacuate their bowls when they’re scared (colloquial known as “shitting one’s pants”).

Where are you getting your information? This whole comment is full of misinformation.

​

Edit:

Thanks u/volcanoesarecool. I can't respond because I was blocked for whatever reason, but I appreciate the info.

13

volcanoesarecool t1_ja6v8c7 wrote

The cortisol pooping thing comes up in Sapolsky's work on stress, though it's more like "we don't got time/resources to digest food right now, evacuate the bowels and run away from the tiger!" in response to extreme stress than an ongoing situation iirc.

10

InTheEndEntropyWins t1_ja35hf4 wrote

Yep, I think all of this has already been known/established.

I was hoping by link I was hoping someone established a causal link, but this study is just more correlation.

26

UgeMan t1_ja3prxk wrote

Heard the other day that introducing probiotics to diet shows something crazy like 65% of people feel mood boosting. Gut health/function and mental health seemingly go hand in hand for many folk

15

ciclidae t1_ja4jzef wrote

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know "However, in most instances, we still don’t know which probiotics are helpful and which are not. We also don’t know how much of the probiotic people would have to take or who would be most likely to benefit. Even for the conditions that have been studied the most, researchers are still working toward finding the answers to these questions."

There are a lot of studies cited below, and most of them non clear about that relation.

31

OrphanDextro t1_ja5bdvs wrote

Thank you, I feel like the relationship between the gut biome and the brain have gotten mighty simplistic in the public’s eye.

6

wmblathers t1_ja3jt24 wrote

Yes, though it's not at all clear that IBS is a microbiome issue (though I wouldn't be surprised by more correlations there, too).

12

Seated_Heats t1_ja6d9wg wrote

It doesn’t necessarily stem from the microbiome, but a flare up likely ends up affecting it. This study doesn’t surprise me from an anecdotal standpoint.

2