Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Many people have taken recent discoveries about the gut-brain axis to mean they should consume probiotic supplements. But do those supplements work? How much evidence supports their use? Alternatively, what role might plant-based foods play in improving your gut health and by extension your mental health?
References
1. Góralczyk-Bińkowska A, Szmajda-Krygier D, Kozłowska E. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(19):11245. Published 2022 Sep 24. doi:10.3390/ijms231911245
2. Socała K, Doboszewska U, Szopa A, et al. The role of microbiota-gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Pharmacol Res. 2021;172:105840. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105840
3. Wang Z, Wang Z, Lu T, et al. The microbiota-gut-brain axis in sleep disorders. Sleep Med Rev.2022;65:101691. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101691
4. Stoller-Contrad J. Microbes help produce serotonin in gut. Caltech News. April 9, 2015. https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495
5. Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203-209.
6. Brody DJ, Gu Q. Antidepressant use among adults: United States, 2015–2018. NCHS Data Brief, no 377. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.
7. World Health Organization (WHO). Depressive disorder (depression). March 31, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
8. Harvard Health Publishing. Should you take probiotics? February 2, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-you-take-probiotics
Many people have taken recent discoveries about the gut-brain axis to mean they should consume probiotic supplements. But do those supplements work? How much evidence supports their use? Alternatively, what role might plant-based foods play in improving your gut health and by extension your mental health?
References
1. Góralczyk-Bińkowska A, Szmajda-Krygier D, Kozłowska E. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(19):11245. Published 2022 Sep 24. doi:10.3390/ijms231911245
2. Socała K, Doboszewska U, Szopa A, et al. The role of microbiota-gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Pharmacol Res. 2021;172:105840. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105840
3. Wang Z, Wang Z, Lu T, et al. The microbiota-gut-brain axis in sleep disorders. Sleep Med Rev.2022;65:101691. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101691
4. Stoller-Contrad J. Microbes help produce serotonin in gut. Caltech News. April 9, 2015. https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495
5. Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203-209.
6. Brody DJ, Gu Q. Antidepressant use among adults: United States, 2015–2018. NCHS Data Brief, no 377. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.
7. World Health Organization (WHO). Depressive disorder (depression). March 31, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
8. Harvard Health Publishing. Should you take probiotics? February 2, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-you-take-probiotics
