Gut Microbiota Associated With Effectiveness And Responsiveness to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Improving Trait Anxiety

Abstract

ObjectiveMindfulness-based interventions have been widely demonstrated to be effective in reducing stress, alleviating mood disorders, and improving quality of life; however, the underlying mechanisms remained to be fully understood. Along with the advanced research in the microbiota-gut-brain axis, this study aimed to explore the impact of gut microbiota on the effectiveness and responsiveness to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) among high trait anxiety populations.DesignA standard MBCT was performed among 21 young adults with high trait anxiety. A total of 29 healthy controls were matched for age and sex. The differences in gut microbiota between the two groups were compared. The changes in fecal microbiota and psychological indicators were also investigated before and after the intervention.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, we found markedly decreased bacterial diversity and distinctive clusters among high trait anxiety populations, with significant overgrowth of bacteria such as Streptococcus, Blautia, and Romboutsia, and a decrease in genera such as Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus_3, and Lachnoclostridium. Moreover, MBCT attenuated trait anxiety and depression, improved mindfulness and resilience, and increased the similarity of gut microbiota to that of healthy controls. Notably, a high presence of intestinal Subdoligranulum pre-MBCT was associated with increased responsiveness to MBCT. Decreases in Subdoligranulum post-MBCT were indicative of ameliorated trait anxiety. The tryptophan metabolism pathways were significantly over-represented among high responders compared to low responders.ConclusionThe significantly increased diversity post-MBCT added evidence to gut-brain communication and highlighted the utility of mycobiota-focused strategies for promoting the effectiveness and responsiveness of the MBCT to improve trait anxiety.Clinical Trial Registrationchictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1900028389.

A Diet Supplemented with Polyphenols, Prebiotics and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulates the Intestinal Microbiota and Improves the Profile of Metabolites Linked with Anxiety in Dogs

“…The abundances of all of these negatively correlated with 4-EPS. Significantly lower abundances of Blautia were found in the gut microbiota of people with high trait anxiety compared with healthy controls [ 10 ]. Because Blautia were significantly increased when dogs consumed the control/test foods in this study, they may shift the gut microbiome toward one associated with a less anxious state.…”

“…In addition, some dogs may exhibit behavioral phenotypes (canine dysfunctional behavior) similar to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in human beings, including repetitive motions such as tail chasing as well as trance-like behavior [ 7 , 8 ]. Some work has been done to characterize the microbiome in people and dogs with anxiety or ASD [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Several studies have shown that transplantation of fecal microbiota from patients with a variety of psychiatric conditions into germ-free mice appears to result in the development of these conditions in the mice as measured by behavioral and physiological parameters.…”

Antidepressant Shugan Jieyu Capsule Alters Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Microbiome Function in Rats With Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress -Induced Depression

“…LEfSe analysis showed that Romboutsia in genus level was the characteristic bacteria after treatment with SJW. Significant overgrowth of Romboutsia has been found among high trait anxiety populations, as well as depression patients ( Zheng et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2022 ). Lactobacillus was observed as the species with significant differences in abundance after treatment with SG.…”

The Cao-Xiang-Wei-Kang formula attenuates the progression of experimental colitis by restoring the homeostasis of the microbiome and suppressing inflammation

“…In full accordance with our results, DSS-induced colitis decreases the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota, both of which were reversed by the CW formula, highlighting its contribution to the remodeling of gut microbiota. An imbalanced gut commensal flora often begins with an increased prevalence of Proteobacteria and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, which have been considered potential diagnostic signatures of dysbiosis, depression, and colitis ( Shin et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2022 ), and the CW therapy considerably suppressed their colonization. Moreover, DSS treatment induced the colonization of the genera Escherichia and Shigella , which is involved in the development of UC into CAC ( Tang et al, 2020 ), which was also inhibited by CW treatment.…”