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248 PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGYProbiotics can influence neurotransmitter production, reduce inflammation, and modulate stress through the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis and the vagus nerve, contributing to a reduction in symptoms of depression [12].A systematic study by Ribera and colleagues (2024) evaluated the results of 43 clinical trials on the effectiveness of probiotics in managing psychiatric disorders. The study showed that probiotic therapy helps reduce symptoms of depression and inflammation responses, benefiting mental health conditions [13].Majeed and colleagues (2018) assessed the effects of B. coagulans on patients with major depressive disorder exhibiting irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms [3]. The results indicated significant improvement in depression scores and quality of life in the group of patients using B. coagulans compared to the placebo group. Additionally, improvements in sleep quality and reductions in memory impairment symptoms were also recorded. Furthermore, the probiotic B. coagulans helped reduce neuroinflammation by lowering levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an inflammatory enzyme associated with oxidative stress, another mechanism that influences depression.2. SUPPORTING GUT INTEGRITYThe gut plays a dual role in absorbing essential nutrients and preventing harmful agents such as pathogens and inflammatory factors from entering the body. This protective function is known as the intestinal barrier, maintained by three main defense layers: (1) the biological barrier, which includes the gut microbiota that provides resistance against the invasion of harmful bacteria; (2) the immune barrier, which consists of the gut-associated lymphoid system, numerous immune cells, and plasma cells that produce IgA capable of recognizing and neutralizing threats; and (3) the