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Healthy bacteria in your gut could be the key to tackling stress, a study suggests.
Researchers in California examined over 100 individuals who do not have mental health issues and carried out surveys regarding their psychological well-being and resilience.
The participants were subsequently split into two categories based on their resilience levels: high and low. Additionally, each individual had an MRI scan conducted and submitted fecal samples for analysis.
The team discovered that the highly resilient group exhibited reduced levels of inflammation and demonstrated better overall health. stronger gut barrier Those with higher resilience outperform those who have lower resilience. An effective barrier is crucial for soaking up nutrients and preventing toxins from entering the gut.
They did not consider patients who have mental health issues.
The connection relies on the immediate exchange of information between the brain and the digestive tract. For instance, this involves the gut transmitting feelings of hunger or fullness to the brain.
The researchers indicated that these discoveries might pave the way for therapies utilizing gut bacteria to tailor mental healthcare approaches.
Dr. Arpana Gupta, who is both a senior study author and the co-director of the UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, commented, "By pinpointing what constitutes a robustly resilient brain and microbiome, we could design specific interventions aimed at these regions to mitigate stress."
The UCLA group assessed 116 adults who hadn't received a diagnosis of a mental health disorder.
About 61 percent of participants were female, while the remainder were male.
Most of the participants in each group were white individuals, withAsian adults following closely behind. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) stood at approximately 28, placing them in the category of being overweight.
Each participant had MRI scans conducted and submitted stool samples using home collection kits two to three days prior to the test.
The week before, they completed comprehensive surveys regarding their eating habits.
In a survey where individuals reported their own responses, participants addressed queries related to their resilience using a scale ranging from zero (not true at all) to four (true almost always).
The overall score was comprised of seven elements: individual resilience; setting high standards with perseverance; trusting gut feelings; tolerating adverse outcomes and stress; embracing changes and fostering relationships; exercising self-control; and spiritual impact.
Greater points indicated enhanced resilience, suggesting they could cope with pressure more effectively and react to challenges better.
The study revealed that individuals with higher resilience experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression, were less likely to be judged harshly, and demonstrated greater proficiency in managing their emotional responses compared to those with lesser resilience.
Moreover, this particular group exhibited more robust microbiomes, encompassing the community of bacteria, parasites, and fungi that play crucial roles in maintaining digestive, immune, hormonal, and neurological well-being.
The researchers indicated that these participants expelled substances associated with reduced inflammation and enhanced gut barrier strength as opposed to individuals exhibiting lesser resilience.
This research contributes to the growing body of recent studies exploring the link between the gut and brain, affecting aspects such as appetite, fullness, food desires, digestive processes, metabolic rates, stress levels, and immune function, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic.
"Resilience indeed encompasses the entire body, impacting not just your brain but also your microbiome and the metabolites it produces," Dr. Gupta stated.
Dr. Desiree Delgadillo, the lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA, stated: "Our body houses an entire microbial ecosystem within the gut that produces healing compounds and biochemistry, so I'm eager to expand on this work."
The study had certain constraints though. Researchers pointed out that subsequent investigations ought to incorporate individuals suffering from psychological disorders such as depression and PTSD, and additional work is necessary overall to validate these results.
The research was released last week in Nature Mental Health .
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