Are your stomach and brain worth a million dollars?

The idea that intestinal bacteria affect mental health is gaining ground. Until several years ago, neuroscientists (scientists and doctors who study the brain) did not believe claims from dietary supplement companies or consumers that probiotics (good bacteria) could benefit mental well-being. Now there is hard evidence, linking conditions such as moodiness and depression, to the gut’s microbial residents, known as the microbiome.¹

“The field is going to another level of sophistication,” says Sarkis Mazmanian, a microbiologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He explains that the use of probiotics has become of major interest to consumers and that we need more involved science to discover more information in this field.¹

In reality, interest in the gut-brain connection has grown so much that in 2014, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health spent one million dollars on a new research program aimed at the microbiome-brain connection. Neuroscientists presented evidence for the link between gut health and brain function at an annual meeting in Washington, DC called, “Gut Microbes and the Brain: Paradigm Shift in Neuroscience.”¹

Did you know alterations of intestinal flora may be linked to brain functions?
Around the world, there has been substantially high levels of particular mood and behavioral issues that affect both young and older individuals.² People with mood and behavioral issues and their families suffer, as there is much about brain chemistry that is still unknown. Many with mood swings and/or mild depression show altered social interaction and communication. They also show restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities.²

Numerous factors have been described in the search for clues as to why anti-social behavior or altered communication occurs, what causes it and how to help those with these types of issues. A large fraction of behaviorally-challenged children suffer from gastro-intestinal problems. Several studies have reported an increased administration of oral antibiotics in the first three years of life to these children, which may destabilize the microbial community by eliminating beneficial bacteria and helping bad bacteria colonize the intestinal walls.²

Potential involvement of gut microbes in altering how the brain functions has been speculated for more than a decade.² The toxic substances in harmful bacteria, if leaked into the bloodstream, can damage various tissues, including the brain. This causes inflammation in the brain, which increases the permeability of the brain barrier and facilitates an accumulation of high levels of mercury in the cerebrum. This in turn may aggravate the brain and behaviors. There is also a very important brain antioxidant which helps detoxify heavy (poisonous) metals in the brain. A recent study showed that certain troubled children had higher levels of several harmful bacteria, including Clostridium, which has been found to produce exo-toxins and an acid called propionic acid. In animal studies, Clostridium has been shown at high levels to increase undesirable behaviors.²

Can an imbalance of gut bacteria result in altered behaviors?
Scientists discovered that several types of gut microbes such as Prevotella, Coprococcus, and Veillonellaceae bacteria were significantly reduced in children who had difficulties with communications and social interactions. Unexpectedly, these microbial changes were more closely linked to the presence of anti-social behavior rather than to the severity of GI issues, specific diets, or dietary supplement regimens. Although there is limited information on the effects of diet, GI problems, and microbiome profiles, the findings from this study are stepping stones for better understanding of the crosstalk between gut microbiota and behavior. ² The scientists conclude that more research may help provide potential targets for diagnosis or treatment of neurological as well as GI symptoms in children with altered behaviors.²

Although the field of probiotic research is relatively new, scientists have been interested for many decades. The new studies that are being conducted are beginning to shed light on how important the gut microbiome is to basic health. There is growing evidence that disturbances in the composition and the diversity of the gut microbiome may be associated with various conditions.

We want to support LifePharm IBOs with cutting-edge scientific news
In order to support our LifePharm IBOs, we are presenting you with cutting-edge scientific news. This helps to inform you of current scientific investigations about dietary supplement ingredients as these areas unfold. Scientific research in the field of dietary supplements and ingredients is an ongoing field with many new ideas and discoveries being made daily.

This article was to help educate all of us on the new science of how the brain and gut are interrelated. Very little is known about this topic and it is early in its beginnings as a scientific field. At LifePharm, we have a good science team that can help us decipher and share relevant and new information. Nothing stated in this article is meant to diagnose, treat, cure or mitigate any disease. We are sharing scientific information that has been recently published but is inconclusive, as there are only a relatively few studies accomplished in this field.

Use DIGESTIVE⁺⁺⁺ to keep GI tract in best working order
What can be stated with surety is that it is of utmost importance in the maintenance of health to keep our entire digestive system functioning as smoothly as possible. We need to keep our microbiomes balanced, with good bacteria growing and bad bacteria under control.

DIGESTIVE⁺⁺⁺ contains prebiotics, probiotics and enzymes. This is a superior combination, because the prebiotic blend fuels the probiotics (good bacteria) in the body*. This means that not only are you adding probiotics to your system, but you also are helping to increase the good bacteria that lives in your gut. And, by adding enzymes, you increase your digestive powers as well as absorption of nutrients.