A Minireview Exploring the Interplay of the Muscle-Gut-Brain (MGB) Axis to Improve Knowledge on Mental Disorders: Implications for Clinical Neuroscience Research and Therapeutics

Abstract

What benefit might emerge from connecting clinical neuroscience with microbiology and exercise science? What about the influence of the muscle-gut-brain (MGB) axis on mental health? The gut microbiota colonizes the intestinal tract and plays a pivotal role in digestion, production of vitamins and immune system development, but it is also able to exert a particular effect on psychological well-being and appears to play a critical role in regulating several muscle metabolic pathways. Endogenous and exogenous factors may cause dysbiosis, with relevant consequences on the composition and function of the gut microbiota that may also modulate muscle responses to exercise. The capacity of specific psychobiotics in ameliorating mental health as complementary strategies has been recently suggested as a novel treatment for some neuropsychiatric diseases. Moreover, physical exercise can modify qualitative and quantitative composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate certain psychopathological symptoms. In this minireview, we documented evidence about the impact of the MGB axis on mental health, which currently appears to be a possible target in the context of a multidimensional intervention mainly including pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, especially for depressive mood.

Probiotics: Bridging the interplay of a healthy gut and psychoneurological well‐being

“…Changes in the CNS biochemistry can be a sign of how probiotics affect the axis of the gut and brain. (Cammisuli et al, 2022). The strength and efficiency of the intestinal mucosa may be impacted by these interactions.…”

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: Efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica Prebiotic Supplementation in Subjects with Gut Dysbiosis

“…In this regard, the present study aimed at testing the efficacy of a standardized extract from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (Odilia TM ) on the overall health of 80 adult subjects with gut dysbiosis by modulating the gut microbiota composition of species involved in inflammation, immunity, oxidation, and, for the first time, according to the last findings, on the brain–gut–muscle axis [ 21 ]. A balanced randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) was designed to test Odilia™ prebiotic supplementation compared to maltodextrins (MDX) as a placebo.…”

Baseline gut microbiota profiles affect treatment response in patients with depression

“…Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by various symptoms, including depressed mood, anhedonia, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, psychomotor retardation and/or agitation, fatigue, feelings of guilt, poor concentration, suicidal ideation, and cognitive impairment ( GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, 2018 ; Burrows et al, 2020 ). The etiology of depression involves abnormal neuroendocrine ( Farzi et al, 2018 ), neuroimmune ( Birmann et al, 2021 ), metabolic ( Lukić et al, 2022 ), and neurotransmitter ( Cammisuli et al, 2022 ) functioning. Epidemiological studies have estimated the global prevalence of depression to be 4.4% ( Ferrari et al, 2013 ), affecting approximately 350 million people worldwide ( Joca et al, 2015 ).…”