Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Lactobacillus supplements for peace of mind

Bacteria found in pro-biotic supplements apparently do more for you than calm your digestive tract — they calm your mind, as well. So say Irish and Canadian researchers in a recent study published in a prominent scientific journal.¹

In the study, a group of mice were fed a diet supplemented with the bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Another group was given an unsupplemented diet. The mice were then subjected to a variety of stress-producing tests, such as being lost in mazes, or forced swimming.²

The Lactobacillus group performed significantly better than the control group, showing less anxiety and more perseverance. Furthermore, the treated group had reduced blood levels of the stress hormone corticosterone, and a redistribution of the GABA neurotransmitter receptors to a pattern most common in non-depressed animals.²

The upshot is that pro-biotic supplements are not just microbes for the belly, they’re microbes for the mind, too. This research helps to reveal the biochemical mechanisms that connect bowel disorders with patient anxiety — a connection that is often noted by physicians.³

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LifeLink carries the following probiotic product containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus:

• Lactobacillus

References

[1] Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Aug 29.

[2] Friendly bacteria cheer up anxious mice Nature News, 30 August 2011

[3] Moody Mice Soothed by Bacteria The Scientist website, August 31, 2011