The Probiotic for Depression Nobody Talks About
If you think (neuro)inflammation could be playing a role in your depression, this probiotic is worth looking into [science-based].
Mood probiotics have been around for a while, but I've noticed that most of them contain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. Two strains that seem to stand out for mood and emotional well-being are Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52 and Bifidobacterium longum Rosell®-175.
There is some solid research behind them, which is why they are used in many mood-supporting probiotic supplements and often recommended by gut health and microbiome experts.
If you want to learn more more about Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175, check out my article How to Boost Your Mood with Homemade Yoghurt.
Pediococcus acidilactici
While looking into mood probiotics, I came across another interesting bacterium; Pediococcus acidilactici.
What I found really fascinating is that it may help people who have been exposed to copper and nickel reduce their levels. I would have never thought probiotics could have anything to do with how your body handles heavy metals.
Another benefit of Pediococcus acidilactici is less surprising, because we already know that the microbiota and probiotics can influence metabolic health. But what researchers found was definitely unexpected:
Interestingly, two out of four strains were significantly more effective (p < 0.0001 each) than metformin in reducing the blood glucose level. This in vivo study demonstrated that Pediococcus acidilactici might be a promising probiotic to prevent hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and gastrointestinal infections.
Pediococcus acidilactici for Depression, Anxiety and Sleep
This is the probiotic for depression nobody talks about.
How does it help with mood?
As a probiotic it can influence the gut microbiota, increase lactic acid production and reduce activity in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.
All of these, including its potential anti-inflammatory effect, suggest that Pediococcus acidilactici may improve brain health. Participants who took the probiotic showed significantly lower scores on standardized depression and anxiety questionnaires compared to the placebo group. Their sleep quality also improved.
It's worth noting that they used the CCFM6432 strain of Pediococcus acidilactici in the study.
The Bottom Line
I also found another study suggesting that Pediococcus acidilactici may help with depression, but it was only tested in animals. This time it was the CGMCC 35671 strain.
Interestingly, the two studies tell a similar story: Pediococcus acidilactici may alleviate depression symptoms by supporting the gut-brain connection and reducing inflammation. The human study found that the probiotic was linked to better mood, improved gut function, and changes in gut-related metabolites. The animal study went deeper and showed that Pediococcus acidilactici also reduced brain inflammation and increased serotonin and dopamine levels.
