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Role of Probiotic Supplements in Decreasing Anxiety: A Systematic Review
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Seyyed Mohammad jalal Hakimi    , Ariyo Movahedi * |
| Department of Nutrition, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , amm35@mail.aub.edu |
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Abstract: (771 Views) |
Background and Objectives: Anxiety is the feeling of worry or nervousness that may manifest as physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. When these symptoms persist and affect performance, anxiety can be regarded as a disorder. Several anxiety disorders have been described, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder. Maintaining a healthy diet is critical for physical and mental well-being. Recent studies have shown that the brain can be affected by dietary components and nutrients. Probiotics have become increasingly popular as part of a healthy diet due to their potential to regulate brain health through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review was designed to identify effective probiotic species in decreasing anxiety.
Materials and Methods: A systematic search was carried out in Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed and Web of Science for studies published until January 2024. The search was carried out with terms of “probiotic supplements” AND anxiety and “probiotic supplements” AND “anxiety disorders”. First, duplicated studies were removed and 2024 studies were screened. Then, 23 studies met the selection criteria.
Results: Based on the results obtained from the 23 selected studies, 16 studies showed that supplementation with probiotics improved anxiety symptoms, although the improvement was small in cases.
Conclusions: Based on the results, probiotics are sometimes effective in decreasing anxiety and can be an adjunctive treatment in persons with psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression and GAD). However, there is a need of further clinical trials with larger sample sizes. Furthermore, Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium longum are more effective than other probiotics in decreasing anxiety. |
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| Keywords: Probiotics, Probiotic supplements, Anxiety, gut-brain axis |
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Full-Text [PDF 685 kb]
(237 Downloads)
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Article type: Review |
Subject:
Nutrition
Received: 2024/10/20 | Accepted: 2024/10/28 | Published: 2025/04/30
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- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 can improve the mood of healthy males and females with moderate stress.
- Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 can improve stress and anxiety in healthy males and females with moderate stress.
- The probiotic supplements containing some Bifidobacterium species can be used as an adjunctive treatment in patients with GAD.
- Concomitant consumption of probiotic supplements containing a mixture of some Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs (SSRIs) can decrease anxiety in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD).
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| References |
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