Microbiome – The Missing Link in the Gut-Brain Axis. The Focus on Gastrointestinal and Mental Health

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) and the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract communicate through the gut-brain axis (GBA). Such communication is bi-directional and involves neuronal, endocrine and immunological mechanisms. The scientific data are mounting that gut microbiota is a source of a number of neuroactive and immunocompetent substances, which shape the structure and function of brain regions involved in control of emotions, physical activity and cognition. Most of GI maladies are associated with altered transmission within the GBA and influenced both by genetic and environmental factors. Current treatment protocols widely advocated for the treatment of GI disorders may positively or adversely affect the composition of intestinal microbiota with diverse impact on therapeutic outcome. The alterations of gut microbiota have been associated with mood and depressive disorders. and mental health is frequently altered in the course of many GI and non-GI ailments. Deregulation of the GBA may constitute a grip point for the development of diagnostic tools and personalized microbiota-based therapy. For example next generation sequencing (NGS) offers detailed analysis of microbiome footprints in patients with mental and GI disorders. Psychobiotics are new class of beneficial bacteria, with documented efficacy in the treatment of gut-brain axis disorders.

Analysis of Knowledge on Probiotics Among Adults Living in the Biała Podlaska County (Lublin Voivodship)

“…Numerous data demonstrate the impact of probiotics on human health and the potential for their use in the prevention and treatment of many diseases [5,8,10,16,[27][28][29][30]. Probiotic preparations are recognized as safe for health.…”

Systematic review and meta‐analysis of the association of Autism Spectrum Disorder in visually or hearing impaired children

“…Ahmed et al 44 reported an eight times greater prevalence of ASD in HI children compared to a typical comparison group which is similar to the 14 times higher prevalence rates reported for the HI studies in this review. When compared qualitatively to the prevalence of ASD in the general population of 0.6-1.0% [9][10][11][59][60][61][62][63] there is a greater likelihood of ASD in the presence of VI or HI. These findings strongly support the need for greater surveillance of ASD in children with congenital VI or HI.…”

“…Prevalence rates were compared between the included studies reporting ASD and VI or HI with prevalence rates for ASD in the general population. 10,11,[59][60][61][62][63] Tables 3 and 4 list the included studies for VI and HI prevalence rates respectively with the details of the best matched comparison populations from which prevalence rates were compared to estimate the relative risk ratios (RR). See Figures 5 and 7.…”