Cambridge.org - A combination of two specific strains of probiotic bacteria tested orally against placebo in human volunteers was shown the ability to alleviate anxiety and psychological distress. This calming benefit was also confirmed in a preclinical animal test for anti-anxiety benefit.
The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, used two probiotic strains that have separately already shown some beneficial biological effects in prior studies. The proprietary test product was obtained from the Institut Rosell-Lallemand, Blagnac, France. It contained a mixture of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175, both of which are contained in the new European probiotic product PROBIO’STICK®. In the US, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 is found in Jarrow-Dophilus products (Jarrow Formulas), and both probiotic strains are listed as ingredients in the functional food chocolate XoBiotic Squares™ (MXICorp.com).
In a prior study, milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus appeared to generally but mildly improve the sleep quality (and quality of life scores) of elderly participants compared to placebo. In a separate prior study, Bifidobacterium longum R0175 plus inulin significantly reduced severity of ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients (and improved quality of life scores) compared to placebo. Also, a prior study with different Lactobacillus probiotic strains showed that Lactobacillus bacteria in general tend to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 and TNF-alpha in human intestinal epithelial cells.
In this human study, 55 Caucasian subjects (about 2/3 women) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which the treatment group consumed one Probio’Stick® at breakfast for one month. Urinary free cortisol was measured. Results showed that the median urinary free cortisol level decreased from baseline to post-treatment in the probiotics group, but not in the placebo group. Similarly, the treatment group had a reduced global severity index of the HSCL-90 psychological rating scale over time.
In the preclinical animal study, two weeks of the probiotics combination lessened anxiety-like behavior in rats compared with placebo, with the probiotics’ effect being a little less pronounced than the effect of diazepam (Valium) in the comparison group.
These benefits are consistent with a previous two-month long human study in 2009 of the popular Japanese strain “Lactobacillus casei Shirota” (Yakult) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to a decrease in anxiety symptoms along with a rise in both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains in the intestinal flora (microbiota).
The abstract of the study, and a free PDF download of the entire article, is available here:
Michaël Messaoudi, et al. Assessment of psychotropic-like properties of a probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175) in rats and human subjects. British Journal of Nutrition, Available on CJO 26 October 2010. doi:10.1017/S0007114510004319
References:
The effect of Lactobacillus helveticus fermented milk on sleep and health perception in elderly subjects. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 100–105; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602898; published online 12 September 2007.
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v63/n1/abs/1602898a.html
Synbiotic Therapy Improves Quality of Life and Reduces Symptoms in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis
ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition April 2009 vol. 1 no. 2 88-93.
http://can.sagepub.com/content/1/2/88.abstract
Interactions of Lactic Acid Bacteria with Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Effects on Cytokine Production. Journal of Food Protection®, Volume 66, Number 3, 1 March 2003 , pp. 466-472(7).
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2003/00000066/00000003/art00018
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of a probiotic in emotional symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Gut Pathogens 2009, 1:6; doi:10.1186/1757-4749-1-6.
http://www.gutpathogens.com/content/1/1/6
Cambridge.org - A combination of two specific strains of probiotic bacteria tested orally against placebo in human volunteers was shown the ability to alleviate anxiety and psychological distress. This calming benefit was also confirmed in a preclinical animal test for anti-anxiety benefit.
The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, used two probiotic strains that have separately already shown some beneficial biological effects in prior studies. The proprietary test product was obtained from the Institut Rosell-Lallemand, Blagnac, France. It contained a mixture of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175, both of which are contained in the new European probiotic product PROBIO’STICK®. In the US, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 is found in Jarrow-Dophilus products (Jarrow Formulas), and both probiotic strains are listed as ingredients in the functional food chocolate XoBiotic Squares™ (MXICorp.com).
In a prior study, milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus appeared to generally but mildly improve the sleep quality (and quality of life scores) of elderly participants compared to placebo. In a separate prior study, Bifidobacterium longum R0175 plus inulin significantly reduced severity of ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients (and improved quality of life scores) compared to placebo. Also, a prior study with different Lactobacillus probiotic strains showed that Lactobacillus bacteria in general tend to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 and TNF-alpha in human intestinal epithelial cells.
In this human study, 55 Caucasian subjects (about 2/3 women) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which the treatment group consumed one Probio’Stick® at breakfast for one month. Urinary free cortisol was measured. Results showed that the median urinary free cortisol level decreased from baseline to post-treatment in the probiotics group, but not in the placebo group. Similarly, the treatment group had a reduced global severity index of the HSCL-90 psychological rating scale over time.
In the preclinical animal study, two weeks of the probiotics combination lessened anxiety-like behavior in rats compared with placebo, with the probiotics’ effect being a little less pronounced than the effect of diazepam (Valium) in the comparison group.
These benefits are consistent with a previous two-month long human study in 2009 of the popular Japanese strain “Lactobacillus casei Shirota” (Yakult) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to a decrease in anxiety symptoms along with a rise in both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains in the intestinal flora (microbiota).
The abstract of the study, and a free PDF download of the entire article, is available here:
Michaël Messaoudi, et al. Assessment of psychotropic-like properties of a probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175) in rats and human subjects. British Journal of Nutrition, Available on CJO 26 October 2010. doi:10.1017/S0007114510004319
References:
The effect of Lactobacillus helveticus fermented milk on sleep and health perception in elderly subjects. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 100–105; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602898; published online 12 September 2007.
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v63/n1/abs/1602898a.html
Synbiotic Therapy Improves Quality of Life and Reduces Symptoms in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis
ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition April 2009 vol. 1 no. 2 88-93.
http://can.sagepub.com/content/1/2/88.abstract
Interactions of Lactic Acid Bacteria with Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Effects on Cytokine Production. Journal of Food Protection®, Volume 66, Number 3, 1 March 2003 , pp. 466-472(7).
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2003/00000066/00000003/art00018
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of a probiotic in emotional symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Gut Pathogens 2009, 1:6; doi:10.1186/1757-4749-1-6.
http://www.gutpathogens.com/content/1/1/6