Probiotics can be an adjunct in the treatment of depression

The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed using validated psychological scales, as well as a biomarker, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and fecal microbiota profiling. The study found that patients who received probiotics experienced a moderate but significant reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to the placebo group. However, both groups showed a noticeable overall improvement during the follow-up period.

Additionally, probiotics did not significantly enhance quality of life compared to placebo. Nevertheless, the data obtained allow us to consider probiotics as a safe and biologically justified addition to standard treatment.

The study’s co-authors emphasize the promising nature of the work. Dr. Saibal Das (Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Bacterial Infections Research, Kolkata) noted that the results are groundbreaking, and a larger-scale clinical study is planned based on the encouraging findings. Abhinaba Ghosh (a neuroscientist at the Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata) added that his goal is to develop affordable healthcare solutions and implement them to have a tangible impact on public health. Scientists argue that larger trials are needed to confirm the findings and better assess the potential of probiotics.