Gut-Brain Axis

‘A very important study’: UK Twins cohort shows prebiotics may boost cognitive function

04-Mar-2024 By Stephen Daniells

Prebiotic supplementation may boost cognitive function in older people, according to new data from the UK-based PROMOTe (effect of PRebiotic and prOtein on Muscle in Older Twins) trial run by scientists from King’s College London.

Probiotic blend may boost sleep quality: Human study

01-Mar-2024 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a combination of four probiotic strains led to improved sleep quality, increasing the ability to fall asleep and reducing daytime dysfunction, says a new study.

PODCAST: Gut-brain scientist on exciting discoveries and frustrating innovation hurdles

29-Feb-2024 By Nikki Hancocks

NutraIngredients Editor Nikki Hancocks speaks with gut-brain researcher, product developer, author and educator Miguel Toribio-Mateas about the exciting scientific discoveries and the many innovation challenges in this field.

Bened Life extends psychobiotic benefits to boost mood in general public

20-Dec-2023 By Asia Sherman

After finding success with its medical probiotic Neuralli for neurodivergent communities, Bened Life is broadening the reach of its psychobiotic strain to a wider audience in the new year.

Polysaccharides show “genuine” potential as neuroprotective therapeutic, researchers stress

05-Dec-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new review reveals the significant neuroprotective properties of dietary polysaccharides, attributing their actions to the key mechanisms of oxidative stress reduction, neuronal production, metabolic regulation, and gut barrier integrity promotion.

Gut-brain axis: Perfect storm of interest makes for an exciting arena

22-Nov-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Scientific advances and consumer appetite have converged to make the gut-brain axis one of the most exciting areas of research today, according to a leading scientist at ADM.

Gut-brain axis: probiotic strain may improve sleep quality, study finds

07-Nov-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new study notes that intakes of a Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 probiotic significantly increased scores of sleep quality in a cohort suffering from insomnia, when compared to a control group.

Probiotic blend may boost mood and offer anxiety benefits: Probiotical study

11-Sep-2023 By Stephen Daniells

A blend of four probiotic strains may lead to “widespread improvements” in measures of mood, anxiety, and depression in healthy young men and women, says a new study using Probiotical’s multi-strain probiotic, Bifizen.

Fermented sausage-derived postbiotic may offer sleep benefits: Study

10-Aug-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The potential sleep promoting effects of a novel probiotic may be related to postbiotic exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by the bug, says a new study published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

Observational study finds link between use of biotics and cognitive health

02-Aug-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A new assessment of NHANES data links probiotic or prebiotic supplementation with cognitive health in the elderly male population.

Probiotic LGG supplements may slow age-related cognitive decline: RCT

24-Jul-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Probiotic dietary supplements may improve cognitive performance and memory in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), says a new double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study.

Scientists identify probiotic and amino acid mix for cognitive health

14-Jun-2023 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

Supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Bifal) and arginine (Arg) could have “a major impact on improving human cognition, especially in old adults”, according to a recent study in mice.

Gut-brain axis: Novozymes exhibit psychobiotic to target stress

17-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

Novozymes OneHealth, supplier of probiotics, enzymes, and bioactive ingredients, exhibited its ‘ProbioBrain’ psychobiotic containing the targeted Bifidobacterium Longum 1714 strain, at Vitafoods last week.

Study: Psychobiotic positively impacts microbiomes of mild anxiety sufferers

01-May-2023 By Danielle Masterson

As research into psychobiotics picks up, the important role the gut–brain axis plays is becoming better understood.

Review highlights probiotics as adjuvant treatment in cognitive decline

15-Mar-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Probiotic supplementation may be an affordable and safe adjuvant treatment option for cognitivie decline management in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

Insights from Probiota 2023

Probiotics paving their way into synergistic mental health treatment

20-Feb-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A significant number of clinical studies into the gut-brain axis are providing exciting data on the potential stand-alone and synergistic benefits of probiotics with traditional medications.

L. gasseri strain may support cognitive function in aged mice: Study

03-Feb-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with Lactobacillus gasseri NK109 may reduce cognitive impairment in aged mice, while also boosting expression of BDNF, says a new study.

Review lays out evidence for nutritional approaches to support neurotransmitter production

10-Jan-2023 By Hank Schultz

Research continues to build the nutritional toolbox that can be accessed to help improve psychiatric outcomes by boosting the production of various neurotransmitters, a new review asserts.

Lallemand’s HA-114 probiotic strain shows neuroprotective promise

03-Jan-2023 By Asia Sherman

Fatty acids derived from the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HA-114 suppress age-dependent neurodegeneration, according to a recent study from the CHUM Research Center at the University of Montreal.

Probiotic may boost cognitive function in healthy older people: RCT

03-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with Bifidobacterium longum BB68S may improve measures of cognitive function, including memory and attention, in older people, says a new study.

Friends with microbial benefits

14-Nov-2022 By Danielle Masterson

New research highlights the connections between social behavior, microbiome composition and health.

Gut-friendly diet reduces stress in APC Microbiome Ireland study

11-Nov-2022 By Nikki Hancocks

Following gut-friendly diets reduce perceived stress and stress-associated disorders, according to a recent study from APC Microbiome Ireland.

Protecting the strain: Bened Life on specialized psychobiotic PS128

10-Nov-2022 By Asia Sherman

Three months after introducing its Neuralli psychobiotic, Bened Life remains focused on the science behind its patented PS128 probiotic strain and protecting the specific neurological benefits for the communities it serves.

Gut-brain study identifies serum propionic acid affects cognitive decline

10-Nov-2022 By Nikki Hancocks

A study of postbiotics has found an association between increased circulating propionic acid levels - linked with consumption of meat, dairy and processed foods - and higher cognitive decline in older persons.

L. plantarum probiotic may offer memory benefits for older people: RCT

03-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum OLL2712 may improve different memory scores in older people with declining memory, says a new study from Japan.

Scientists detect suicidal ideation via saliva bacteria

27-Oct-2022 By Danielle Masterson

The research underscores the power of the oral-gut-brain axis, something the researchers tell us could help inform the development of a probiotic strain for mental health.

Gut-brain axis: Probiotic combination may produce changes in brain morphology, says RCT

20-Sep-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of three probiotic strains may led to changes in connectivity between various regions of the brain and exert subtle improvements on psychological health, says a new study using a GSK product.

Probiotic candidate may help alleviate depression: Study

31-Aug-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

Administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus paragasseri (L. paragasseri) OLL2809 stimulates an abundance of healthy gut bacteria that may help alleviate depressive symptoms.

Seed Health partners with Axial Therapeutics for gut-brain program

13-Jul-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The joint development program between Seed and Axial aims to develop next-generation probiotics and therapeutics to modulate the gut microbiota to target areas like anxiety, depression and mental well-being.

Probiotic combination may ease acute stress in healthy people: RCT

20-Apr-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of three probiotic strains may help manage acutely stressful situations such as an arithmetic stress task, says a new study using a GSK product.

Psychobiotics show promising avenue for mood support and beyond

05-Apr-2022 By Danielle Masterson

Emerging research suggests mental health and gut biology are intrinsically linked, presenting new opportunities in the gut-brain category.

Can psychobiotics soothe a simmering post-happy world?

05-Apr-2022 By Will Chu

Gut-brain axis (GBX)-focused probiotic supplements have tripled to 200+ offerings since 2019, as promising science and self-medicating consumers seek solutions to a global mental health crisis afflicting a billion people, according to Lumina Intelligence.

Scientists show ‘cause and effect’ for gut-metabolite and brain function

21-Feb-2022 By Lynda Searby

Shedding new light on the workings of the gut-brain axis, scientists have found that a gut-derived molecule induces anxiety in mice.

Probiotic mix may boost mood for people with moderate depression

16-Feb-2022 By Stephen Daniells

A multispecies probiotic product may improve mood and some cognitive measures, says a new study from the University of Oxford that suggests the product may be an “early intervention strategy” for people with moderate depression.

Probiotic may help students manage stress levels, says new RCT

14-Feb-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a specific probiotic strain may reduce perceived stress levels by university students, says a new study from Belgium.

Unilever and Holobiome join forces to identify ingredients targeting gut-brain axis

06-Jan-2022 By Kavitha Sivasubramaniam

Unilever has teamed up with gut microbiome organisation Holobiome to discover ingredients in food and drink that target the gut-brain axis and improve mental wellbeing.

Study provides ‘first’ report of elderly gut microbiota changes and cognitive decline

08-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

The composition of the gut microbiota is different between healthy older people and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), says a new study which may lead to better microbiota-based diagnosis for early stage MCI.

News in Brief

Yakult and APC Microbiome Ireland launch gut-brain axis consumer guide

15-Oct-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Yakult UK and Ireland has launched a guide to the gut-brain axis, in collaboration with APC Microbiome Ireland, after research revealed that just 29% of consumers have heard of this link.

Study: Klebsiella overgrowth linked to early brain injury in extreme premature infants

20-Sep-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Shifts are likely to occur in premature babies, whose immune system and microbiome have not been able to develop fully. These shifts may result in negative effects on the brain.

Study: Probiotics improve aerobic capacity and reduce stress in athletes

25-May-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Probiotics supplementation can help improve aerobic capacity and relieve anxiety and stress in badminton players, according to a new clinical trial.

Probiotic may improve stress and anxiety measures in healthy adults: RCT

04-Feb-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Lpc-37 may reduce markers of psychological and physiological stress and anxiety in healthy adults, says a new study.

L. fermentum probiotic may boost cognitive and immune health: Mouse data

04-Jan-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum JDFM216 may boost cognitive performance and balance ability – for mice at least – says a new study from Korea.

Probiota Champions: In conversation with Dr John Bienenstock

04-Dec-2020 By Stephen Daniells

The gut-brain axis is an exciting possibility that is receiving the appropriate intensity of investigation, and despite ‘little bursts of light here and there’ hinting at its potential, says Dr John Bienenstock.

Lallemand zeros in on gut-brain axis

24-Nov-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Disruptions in the gut or brain as they codevelop may subsequently predispose children to stress-related disorders later on in adulthood.

Lallemand’s psychobiotic combination may boost BDNF levels: Study

21-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

A specific combination of two probiotic strains may boost levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and improve depressive symptoms in people with depressions, says a new study.

Whole fruit vitamin C boosts mood, energy

14-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

A New Zealand study found that vitamin C has a positive impact on feelings of vitality.

Prebiotics improve glucose homeostasis: Study

06-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The gut-brain axis plays a key role in the regulation of sugar in the blood. However, those with diabetes experience significantly higher sugar levels because the condition causes the regulation process to malfunction.

How gut microbiome affects host behavior: Study

26-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

With about 90% of serotonin receptors located in the gut, it is easy to understand why the gut is often referred to as the "second brain." While we do know that what we eat affects the microbiome and the brain, how the microbiome in turn impacts...

NutraVideo: Dr. Dan Gubler on the gut's role in stress

18-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Pretty much everything we do impacts our gut microbiomes — from the amount of sleep we get, to what we eat and even how we manage stress.

Gut bacteria have direct line to brain: Mouse study

10-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

New research demonstrated significant direct communications between the central nervous system and the gut, finding that microbiota modulate sympathetic neurons through the a gut–brain circuit.