Probiotics May Give Antidepressants a Boost

Gut Check: Probiotic supplements are popular, even though research into their effectiveness has yielded mixed results. While most people likely take them to improve gut health and digestion, a new study suggests they may help improve depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults taking antidepressants.

The Study: The study included 58 adults in India who were at least 60 years old, had been diagnosed with moderate depression, and were taking a prescribed antidepressant. The participants were randomly picked to take a probiotic supplement or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks, along with their antidepressant. Afterward, researchers monitored them for another 12 weeks, using several tools to measure outcomes. One was a standard psychological scale. They also measured a biomarker commonly studied in mental health research called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as gut bacteria from fecal samples. 

The Takeaway: Most of the participants showed improvement, but the probiotic group experienced a larger reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms than the placebo group. Researchers say the study offers more insight into the gut-brain axis — the communication network between the two.

Keep in Mind: This was a small, pilot study. Researchers say a larger clinical trial is in the works.