Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human–bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition

Publication date: August 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 28Author(s): Annelise Madison, Janice K Kiecolt-GlaserHumans and their gut bacteria have evolved multiple ways to communicate with and regulate one another. Psychological stress and depression can promote consumption of highly palatable foods, influencing which gut bacteria thrive. Additionally, stress and depression can reshape the gut bacteria’s composition through stress hormones, inflammation, and autonomic alterations. In turn, the gut bacteria release metabolites, toxins, and neurohormones that can alter eating behavior and mood. Some bacterial species may encourage dysregulated eating. The gut bacteria may also upregulate stress responsiveness and heighten the risk for depression, which probiotic supplementation may attenuate. This review focuses on human studies to address the bidirectional links among diet, stress, and the gut bacteria, and their impact on immune function and health.Graphical abstractThe dynamic human-microbe cycle. In a complex web of interactions, psychological stress, depression, and diet independently and together help to shape the gut microbiota’s composition. Stress and depression alter the gut bacteria via immune, autonomic, and endocrine signaling, while diet helps to determine which bacteria flourish. Stress and depression can provoke dysregulated eating, and conversely, diet modulates stress reactivity and mood. Thus, diet and stress can interact with on...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research