Psychobiotics as an Intervention in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Today’s perceived excess of work versus rest and excessive stressful situations are one of the potential factors for an increasing number of gastrointestinal disorders. Although the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) varies widely, it is assumed that up to 15% of the general population may be affected. Symptoms resulting from IBS take the form of pain, including difficulties with bowel movements, bloating, and a feeling of overflowing in the intestines. These symptoms have a negative impact on patients’ quality of life, so any possible intervention supported by Evidence-Based Medicine should effectively contribute to their improvement. In the following review, the authors compile the current knowledge based on the findings of researchers from around the world. The topic of probiotic therapy is increasingly discussed in the field of lower gastrointestinal disorders, and thus the authors discover links between probiotic strains and the improvement of health quality in patients with IBS, taking into consideration the ways it affects patients’ mental health. As a result, a systematic review was prepared based on 60 items of recent literature, of which more than 80% were published in the last 5 years.

A double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study assessing the impact of probiotic supplementation on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in females

“…36,37 There are known to be psychological and cognitive burdens associated with IBS 38 with anxiety/depression affecting over a third of those with IBS 39 and cognitive impairments have also been observed. 40,41 Probiotic bacteria are gaining recognition for their positive impact on mental health and cognition via interaction between the gut-brain axis 42 and probiotics have shown antianxiety and/or anti-depressive responses in people with IBS. 43,44 There were reductions in both HADS anxiety and depression scores in the probiotic group but there was no impact on cognition during the SCWT (assessing executive function 45 ).…”

The Role of Microbiota Pattern in Anxiety and Stress Disorders—A Review of the State of Knowledge

“…Adequate education of people with stress-related disorders is particularly important, as stress is an important predictor of eating behavior. It may activate relevant reward (pleasure) center signaling pathways in the brain, which in turn may be associated with increased consumption of unhealthy snacks at the expense of adequate fruit and vegetable intake [81]. Given the importance of an adequate diet for mental health, the care of both a psychologist and a nutritionist may be highly beneficial.…”

A Narrative Review of Psychobiotics: Probiotics That Influence the Gut–Brain Axis

“…These roles include the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, or dopamine, the regulation of cortisol levels, and the production of short-chain fatty acids critical for intestinal epithelial integrity. However, during dysbiosis, the microbiome shifts its function, leading to an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the release of bacterial toxins, and the elimination of harmful metabolites from the diet [4].…”