Exploring the Potential of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 as Promising Psychobiotics Using SHIME.

Psychobiotics are probiotics that have the characteristics of modulating central nervous system (CNS) functions or reconciled actions by the gut-brain axis (GBA) through neural, humoral and metabolic pathways to improve gastrointestinal activity as well as anxiolytic and even antidepressant abilities. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 on the gut microbiota of mildly anxious adults using SHIME®. The protocol included a one-week control period and two weeks of treatment with L. helveticus R0052 and B. longum R0175. Ammonia (NH4+), short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), cytokines and microbiota composition were determined. Probiotic strains decreased significantly throughout the gastric phase. The highest survival rates were exhibited by L. helveticus R0052 (81.58%; 77.22%) after the gastric and intestinal phase when compared to B. longum (68.80%; 64.64%). At the genus level, a taxonomic assignment performed in the ascending colon in the SHIME® model showed that probiotics (7 and 14 days) significantly (p < 0.005) increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Olsenella and significantly decreased Lachnospira and Escheria-Shigella. The probiotic treatment (7 and 14 days) decreased (p < 0.001) NH4+ production when compared to the control period. For SCFAs, we observed after probiotic treatment (14 days) an increase (p < 0.001) in acetic acid production and total SCFAs when compared to the control period. Probiotic treatment increased (p < 0.001) the secretion of anti-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-10) and decreased (p < 0.001) pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha) when compared to the control period. The gut-brain axis plays an important role in the gut microbiota, producing SCFAs and GABA, stimulating the production of anti-anxiety homeostasis. The signature of the microbiota in anxiety disorders provides a promising direction for the prevention of mental illness and opens a new perspective for using the psychobiotic as a main actor of therapeutic targets.

Neuronutrients and Central Nervous System: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, with a high and constant demand for inputs. Adequate nutrition is essential for the complete functioning of the brain, not only due to the energy supply, mainly from carbohydrates, but also due to the adequate supply of other macronutrients and micronutrients for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and protein components. Vitamins, minerals, and other components of the diet also constitute the so-called "neuro-nutrients". OBJECTIVE: It was to develop a systematic review to highlight key neuro-nutrients and clinical studies that direct strategies for adequate nutritional status. METHODS: The rules of the Systematic Review-PRISMA Platform were followed. The research was carried out from October 2021 to February 2022 and developed based on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. RESULTS: A total of 234 articles were found and 167 articles were evaluated in full, and 118 were included and evaluated in the present study. According to the GRADE instrument, most studies (>50%) followed a controlled clinical study model and had a good methodological design. The overall assessment resulted in 54 studies with a high risk of bias to the small sample size. The most important macronutrients in neuro-nutrition are phosphatidylserine and tryptophan. Micronutrients are methyl folate, vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, arginine, choline, and niacin. CONCLUSION: The areas of neurology and psychiatry have shown great advances regarding the deepening of knowledge in prophylaxis and pathophysiology, as well as in the treatment of established diseases. The recognition of the role of nutrition as an adjunct to these processes is currently growing. The search in scientific bases for neuro nutrients reveals a great growth of publications related to this theme. In the present text, some of these nutrients were explored to verify the current state of knowledge.