Mental health is complex, but new research suggests that a bacteria found in fermented foods and yogurt may help prevent depression and anxiety.

Researchers have discovered that the bacterium Lactobacillus helps the body manage stress, potentially preventing the onset of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Earlier research suggested that the bacterium could reverse depression in mice. To understand why this happens, the researchers used a collection of bacteria known as Altered Schaedler Flora, which included two strains of Lactobacillus and six other bacterial strains.

The transfer of gut bacteria from stressed mice to germ-free mice was shown to lead to depression and anxiety-related behaviors.

Mice without Lactobacillus, in particular, were shown to exhibit elevated stress responses and lower levels of an immune factor called interferon-gamma, which is involved in regulating stress response.

The study’s authors say, “These results provide a novel framework to understand the roles of the bacterial gut microbiome and the immune system in mood disorders.”

This research could lead to the development of new methods to treat and prevent mental health conditions. For example, in the future, people who are at risk of depression could take a probiotic supplement that contains Lactobacillus.

Does yogurt help anxiety and depression?
Nutritionist said this study adds “valuable insights” to the connection between gut health and mental well-being, a growing area of interest in the field of nutrition.

“The fact that Lactobacillus, commonly found in fermented foods and yogurt, is linked to stress management and potential prevention of depression and anxiety opens up exciting possibilities for holistic approaches to mental health,” he noted.

He said this study highlights the role of gut microbes on stress and anxiety and in turn, how diet affects our mental well-being.

“Microbiota influences brain signaling, so changes in microbiota alter brain stimulation. This is an important effect and suggests that we really may be what we eat,” he said.

Lactobacillus’s role in supporting mental health can be attributed to its impact on the gut-brain axis, he Parsad.

“The gut is often called the “second brain” due to the bidirectional communication between the gut and the central nervous system,” he explained.