Probiotics improve the mood of new mothers and the quality of breastfeeding, with beneficial effects on the baby. Yet another confirmation of the influence of the microbiota on the mental state comes from an Italian study (Vicariotto et al., 2023) published in Nutrients. (1)
1) A systematic review
190 healthy (Caucasian) pregnant Italian women, aged between 18 and 50 years (average age 32,54 years) participated in the study. Participants were assigned to two study groups and treated with the probiotic plus a multivitamin food supplement or with the multivitamin supplement alone.
The probiotic used contains two probiotic strains, called Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072 and Bifidobacterium brevis BB077, for a final dosage of 4 × 10 9 CFU/day (2 × 10 9 CFU for each strain).
The multivitamin supplement provides vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, D and E.
2) The results
After 45 and 90 days from the beginning of treatment, the women participating in the study underwent a self-assessment test of symptoms related to depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), consisting of 10 questions. (2)
The treated group with probiotics achieved a score in the test lower than that indicating symptoms of depression (9 out of 10 after 45 days and 7 after 90 days), while the control group achieved an average value of 12,1 after 45 days and 10,8 after three months.
3) Probiotics and mental well-being
A systematic review under review focused on the effects of probiotics on the typical mood alterations that affect new mothers.
‘During the puerperium, infact, mothers experience several physiological changes that could lead to stress and anxiety.
Progesterone and estrogen, two hormones that increase tenfold during pregnancy, decrease dramatically after giving birth. This condition can persist for 3-4 weeks and is related to many changes in the mother’s life, such as diurnal changes in mood, poor concentration and irritability.
Usually, this condition resolves itself without any intervention, but sometimes these mental states might last longer, leading to more serious problems, such as PPD (post-partum depression, ed.)’, explain the researchers.
4) Other recent evidence
The same benefits Probiotics on mental well-being had previously been demonstrated by Italian researchers on other population groups:
– out of 30 students during an exam session and treated with a probiotic supplement containing the same strains L. reuteri PBS072 and B. brevi BB077, a study (Nobile et al., 2022) had highlighted an improvement in the student’s cognitive function and sleep quality, (3)
– in 33 employees university students subjected to the lockdown imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, another study (Nobile et al., 2023) reported an improvement in general mood, anger and feelings of tension, as well as in the quality of sleep. (4)
5) Calmer children
Another aspect defined as surprising by the researchers in the study in question is the beneficial effect detected on the children of new mothers treated with probiotics.
In the children of women treated with L. reuteri PBS072 and B. brevi BB077 there was a significant improvement in daily events of crying and/or agitation.
Researchers They hypothesize three possible explanations:
– probiotics improve the mood of mothers, who, being less stressed and happier, could perceive their children’s crying episodes differently in terms of number and severity of the episodes,
– more confident and calm mothers could positively influence their child’s behavior,
– crying events could be linked to a reduction in infant colic mediated by the indirect intake of probiotics through breastfeeding.
6) Conclusions
The mechanism by which probiotics modulate mood is yet to be clarified. However, growing evidence suggests that probiotics influence the gut-brain axis, with important effects on mental health changes, such as depression. (5)
Marta Strinati
Footnotes
(1) Vicariotto, F.; Malfa, P.; Torricelli, M.; Lungaro, L.; Caio, G.; De Leo, V. Beneficial Effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072 and Bifidobacterium brevis BB077 on Mood Imbalance, Self-Confidence, and Breastfeeding in Women during the First Trimester Postpartum. Nutrients 2023, 15, 3513. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15163513
(2) See https://perinatology.com/calculators/Edinburgh%20Depression%20Scale.htm
(3) Nobile, V.; Giardina, S.; Puoci, F. The Effect of a Probiotic Complex on the Gut-Brain Axis: A Translational Study. Neuropsychobiology 2022, 82, 116–126 https://doi.org/10.1159/000518385
(4) Nobile, V.; Puoci, F. Effect of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Supplementation to Manage Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Clinical. Neuropsychobiology 2023, 82, 61–71. https://doi.org/10.1159/000527956
(5) Giulia Pietrollini. Probiotics, prebiotics and psychobiotics, a revolution for mental health? GIFTS (Great Italian Food Trade). 14.2.2023
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
