The Second Brain: How Probiotics can Affect Behaviour

by Andrea Zeelie

Are those butterflies in your stomach? A healthy gut may just mean a healthy state of mind. New research reveals that gut microflora can communicate with the brain, and alter behaviour. The gut has long been thought of as the second brain, as the intestines are controlled by the enteric nervous system, which connects to the brain via the autonomic nervous system. This linkage is also known as the brain-gut axis. Stephen Collins, a professor of medicine at the University of McMaster, has extensively researched microflora-gut-brain communication, and the effects microflora change can have on the brain.

The gut contains a delicate balance of microflora, the microorganisms that live in the digestive track. Microflora contains as many as 1000 different species of bacteria, including probiotics. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that regulate the immune system, inhibit the growth of pathogens, and reinstate the equilibrium that may beoffset by antibiotics or infection.

Professor Collins’s recent study examined the effect of a probiotic blend of Lactobacillus Rosell-52, and Bifidobacterium Rosell-175 on the behaviour of mice. Germ-free mice were colonized with bacteria from mice with a different behavioural pattern. The germ-free mice with a genetic background associated with passive behaviour were colonized with bacteria from mice with more active behaviour. The transformed mice became more active. The same change in behaviour was observed in active mice implanted with bacteria from passive mice. The research indicates that while the brain is acknowledged in affecting the gut, the gut is now recognized in influencing the brain.

The digestive system is highly in tune with emotional, and mental wellbeing. Women suffering from gastrointestinal problemsreport aggravated symptoms of discomfort during times of uncertainty. Collins suggests that certain blends of probiotics may be “helpful in modifying behaviour, such as reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress” for woman with issues like irritable bowl syndrome. Although further studies must be conducted to confirm these results, Collins advises that probiotic blends could be useful clinically in patients with anxiety.

Professor Collins recommends that healthy woman include probiotics in their diets as a precautionary measure.Introducing probiotics into a daily diet is easy as probiotics are readily availablein fermented dairy products (such as yogurt, cheese, and kefir), probiotic fortified foodsand in alternative probiotic products. A healthy diet, as part of a healthy lifestyle, promotes strong mental health and minimizes risk of physical health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Image courtesy Microsoft Office.