EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC AND PREBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION AS ADJUVANTS IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv16n55-073Keywords:
Probiotics, Prebiotics, Depressive SymptomsAbstract
Depression is a highly prevalent mental disorder that significantly impacts quality of life. Traditionally treated with pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches, new studies have explored the gut-brain axis as a complementary treatment pathway. In this context, the use of probiotics and prebiotics has gained prominence for its potential beneficial effects on mental health, positively influencing depressive symptoms. For this reason, the present study proposed, through an integrative literature review, to verify the use of these compounds in individuals with depressive disorders, seeking to highlight gaps in current knowledge and promote the connection between nutrition and mental health. The research was conducted by searching for studies available in the PubMed, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect databases, using the descriptors "Probiotics," "Prebiotics," and "Depression," combined with the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR." It is concluded that the use of probiotics and prebiotics as a supplementary therapeutic route indicates satisfactory results in the treatment of depressive symptoms. Taking into account the lack of standardization and continuous evaluation of the use of these supplements, it is important to emphasize that the results need to be analyzed diligently, so that the modulating effects will have greater support for their use. Consequently, it is also necessary to carry out more tests with specific dosage, time and methods for a more reliable result.
Downloads
References
BARTOS, A.; WEINEROVA, J.; DIONDET, S. Effects of human probiotics on memory and psychological and physical measures in community-dwelling older adults with normal and mildly impaired cognition: results of a bi-center, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial (CleverAge biota). Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, v. 15, 7 jul. 2023.
BINDELS, L. B. et al. Towards a more comprehensive concept for prebiotics. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, v. 12, n. 5, p. 303–310, 31 mar. 2015.
BOCKTING, C. L. et al. A lifetime approach to major depressive disorder: The contributions of psychological interventions in preventing relapse and recurrence. Clinical Psychology Review, v. 41, p. 16–26, nov. 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2015.02.003.
CHEN, S. et al. Prevalence, progress, and subgroup disparities in pharmacological antidepressant treatment of those who screen positive for depressive symptoms: a repetitive cross-sectional study in 19 European countries. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, v. 17, p.100368, jun. 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100368.
CRYAN, J. F. et al. The microbiota-gut-brain axis. Physiological Reviews, v. 99, n. 4, p. 1877-2013, 28 ago. 2019. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00018.2018.
DEEHAN, E. C. et al. Perspective: Revisiting the concepts of prebiotic and prebiotic effect in light of scientific and regulatory progress – A consensus paper from the Global Prebiotic Association (GPA). Advances in Nutrition, p. 100329, out. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100329.
FREIJY, T. M. et al. Effects of a high-prebiotic diet versus probiotic supplements versus synbiotics on adult mental health: The “Gut Feelings” randomised controlled trial. Frontiers in Neuroscience, v. 16, 6 fev. 2023.
FULLER, R. Probiotics in human medicine. Gut, v. 32, n. 4, p. 439-442, 1 abr. 1991. DOI: 10.1136/gut.32.4.439.
GIBSON, G. R.; ROBERFROID, M. B. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. The Journal of Nutrition, v. 125, n. 6, p. 1401–1412, 1 jun. 1995. DOI:10.1093/jn/125.6.1401.
HAGHIGHAT, N.; RAJABI, S.; MOHAMMADSHAHI, M. Effect of synbiotic and probiotic supplementation on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, depression and anxiety symptoms in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial. Nutritional Neuroscience, p. 1–10, 4 ago. 2019.
HEIDARZADEH-RAD, N. et al. Effects of a Psychobiotic Supplement on Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Depressive Patients: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, v. 26, n. 4, p. 486–495, 30 set. 2020.
HILL, C. et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology, v. 11, n. 8, p. 506–14, 2014.
KENNEDY, P. J. et al. Irritable bowel syndrome: a microbiome-gut-brain axis disorder? World Journal of Gastroenterology, v. 20, n. 39, p. 14105, 2014. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14105.
KESSLER, R. C. et al. Age differences in the prevalence and co-morbidity of DSM-IV major depressive episodes: results from the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Depression and Anxiety, v. 27, n. 4, p. 351–364, abr. 2010.
MARX, W. et al. Major depressive disorder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, v. 9, n. 1, p. 44, 24 ago. 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00454-1
MINISTÉRIO DA SAÚDE. Depressão. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/saude-de-a-a-z/d/depressao. Acesso em: 30 maio 2025.
MOINUL, D. et al. Patient Perceptions of Microbiome-Based Therapies as Novel Treatments for Mood Disorders: A Mixed Methods Study. The Canadian journal of psychiatry/Canadian journal of psychiatry, 28 fev. 2024.
NALIBOFF, B. D. et al. Evidence for decreased activation of central fear circuits by expected aversive visceral stimuli in IBS patients. Gastroenterology, v. 118, n. 4, 1 abr. 2000. DOI:10.1016/S0016-5085(00)82626-8
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE. Depression in adults: treatment and management. London: NICE, 2022.
NIKOLOVA, V. L. et al. Perturbations in gut microbiota composition in psychiatric disorders: a review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, v. 78, n. 12, p. 1343–1354, 2021. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.2573.
O’MAHONY, S. M. et al. Maternal separation as a model of brain–gut axis dysfunction. Psychopharmacology, v. 214, n.1, p. 71–88, 2011. DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2010-9.
PETER P.J. JACKSON et al. Inulin-type fructans and 2’fucosyllactose alter both microbial composition and appear to alleviate stress-induced mood state in a working population compared to placebo (maltodextrin): the EFFICAD Trial, a randomized, controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, v. 118, n. 5, p. 938–955, 1 nov. 2023.
QASEEM, A. et al. Nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments of adults in the acute phase of major depressive disorder: a living clinical guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, v. 176, n. 2, p. 239–252, 2023. DOI: 10.7326/M22-2056.
RADFORD-SMITH, D. E.; ANTHONY, D. C. Prebiotic and probiotic modulation of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in depression. Nutrients, v. 15, n. 8, p. 1880, 2023. DOI: 10.3390/nu15081880.
ROSSOM, R. C. et al. Antidepressant adherence across diverse populations and healthcare settings. Depression and Anxiety, v. 33, n. 8, p. 765–774, 2016. DOI: 10.1002/da.22532.
SANTOMAURO, D. F. et al. Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet, v. 398, n. 10312, p. 1700–1712, 6 nov. 2021. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02143-7.
SARKAR, A. et al. Psychobiotics and the manipulation of bacteria–gut–brain signals. Trends in Neurosciences, v. 39, n. 11, p. 763–781, 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2016.09.002
STECHER, C.; CLOONAN, S.; DOMINO, M. E. The economics of treatment for depression. Annual Review of Public Health, v. 45, n. 1, p. 527-551, 2023. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-061022-040533.
TARUTANI, S. et al. Effects of 4G-beta-D-Galactosylsucrose in patients with depression: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, v. 148, p. 110–120, abr. 2022.
TENEA, G. N.; YÉPEZ, L. Probiotics and prebiotics in human nutrition and health. In: RAO, V. (Ed.). Probiotics and prebiotics in human nutrition and health. Rijeka: InTech, 2016. DOI: 10.5772/61495.
