B2B Nutramedic&Cosmetics No. 7

Page 20

Nutramedic &Cosmetics

Psychobiotics and Our (Second) Brain

Modern science is researching the complex connection between the gut and the brain and the development of psychobiotics, microorganisms that can have a positive effect on mental health. Research to date shows that psychobiotics support the digestive system and help to reduce mental fatigue and a general feeling of tiredness, thus promoting overall mental health.

E AUTHOR:

Andrija Karačić, M.D., specializing in abdominal surgery and the founder of the Gut Microbiome Center in Zagreb

ven with significant advances in science, we still do not fully understand how the human brain functions. Emotional health, psychologi­ cal, and neurodegenerative diseases remain areas filled with mysteries and open questions. However, it becomes even more complex when we include the so-called second brain in the story. Modern science claims that we possess not one but two brains. The popular term "second brain" refers to an indepen­ dent, complex nervous system in the lining of our in­ testines. The first and second brains communicate with each other through different neurohumoral signals via the gut-brain axis. This means that both the brain and the intestines quickly learn when their partner on the other side of the axis is in trouble. Today, scientists and clinicians, in addition to dis­ covering how the gut-brain axis functions, are also working on finding methods to treat this axis and re­ lated diseases. Cognitive-behavioural psychothera­ py, antibiotics, and faecal transplantation are often mentioned in this context. A less radical but equally effective method could be the use of psychobiotics.

Have you heard of psychobiotics?

Considering that many scientific papers have been published on the topic of probiotics and the gut-brain axis, the field of psychobiotics has only "exploded" in

20

the last decade. Before 2013, there was not a single scientific paper on this topic, and in 2022, as many as 72 publicly available scientific papers were publi­ shed exclusively on the topic of psychobiotics. Psychobiotics were defined by a group of scien­ tists from the University of Cork in Ireland, a leading global centre for studying the gut-brain axis, as far back as 2013. Similar to probiotics, psychobiotics are living microorganisms that, when ingested in suffi­ cient quantities, have beneficial effects on the body. In the case of psycho-probiotics, they have an impact on mental health. This subset of probiotics has the capacity to produce and deliver neuroactive substan­ ces, neurotransmitters, and neuromodulators such as serotonin, the "happiness" hormone, and GABA. Because of this, these microorganisms can influen­ ce the functioning of the gut-brain axis, primarily the function of the vagus nerve. In addition to the vagus nerve as the main anatomical axis of the gutbrain connection, psychobiotic metabolites reach the "first" brain through circulation, or indirectly through the spinal cord, or directly through the blood-brain barrier. In addition to the secretion of neuroactive metabo­ lites, psychobiotics achieve their effects through anti-­ inflammatory actions and by their ability to reduce the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis due to the neuroendocrine action of their metabolites.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

¡Hola Barcelona!: Vitafoods Europe Announces Farewell to Geneva with Relocation for 2025

2min
pages 54-55

medicinal plants photo herbarium Passiflora

2min
page 53

INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORY 757 Natural Cosmetics

7min
pages 50-52

Planet-friendly Nutrition with Algal Astaxanthin

1min
page 49

New Findings for Award-winning Conditioning Biopolymer AURIST™ AGC

1min
page 48

Three Skincare Trends for 2024

1min
page 47

Regulation 2023/1545 Amends the List of Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetics

3min
pages 46-47

CosmetoSAFE Consulting’s Solution for Cosmetics Technologists

4min
pages 44-45

ThymoQuin®-OCare Black Seed Oil Now Applicable for Oral Health

1min
page 43

Nutramedic &Cosmetics Upcycled and Plant-based Protein for Sports Nutrition

1min
page 42

New Study Demonstrates Levagen+® Positively Impacts URTIs

1min
page 41

Ferrous Bisglycinate Supplementation in Pregnancy

4min
page 40

Kemin Granted European Patent for Use of Neumentix™

2min
page 39

ABG10+® May Improve Blood Pressure Levels

2min
page 38

Stress, Anxiety and Sleep

3min
pages 36-37

NHCO Nutrition® Laboratories Selects Centric PLM to Transform Product Development

2min
pages 28-29

Eliminating Leaking Softgels

1min
page 27

New Partnership to Enhance Regulatory and Safety Capabilities for Food and Cosmetics

2min
page 26

Sidebyside Capsule Technology

2min
pages 24-25

Technology Transfer at Fine Foods A Balance Between Hard and Soft Skills

2min
pages 22-23

New Probiotic Concept within Cognitive Health

2min
page 21

Psychobiotics and Our (Second) Brain

3min
pages 20-21

Darmell Expert in the Nutritional Supplements Field

1min
page 19

What Makes Synbiotics such an Exciting Prospect?

4min
pages 18-19

Revolutionizing Endurance

1min
page 17

Promising Potential of Mobilee® in Muscle Health

1min
page 16

Low Molecular Weight Collagen – the Future of Collagen Hydrolysate

5min
pages 14-15

Actiful® Reduces Methylglyoxal, an Important Marker for Healthy Ageing

2min
page 13
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.