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Evidence suggests that alterations in the gut microbiome, through bidirectional interactions with the brain, might play a role in depressive illness. A meta-analysis has suggested that probiotics, as adjunctive therapy alongside standard antidepressants, can improve depressive symptoms, but they do not work as stand-alone therapy (J Clin Med 2021; 10:647). In this latest randomized trial, 49 patients in the U.K. with depression of moderate severity (half with comorbid anxiety) and incomplete response to a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor received add-on treatment with either a multistrain probiotic (Bio-Kult Advanced; ADM Protexin) or placebo for 8 weeks. The probiotic manufacturer provided funding for the study.
On two depression scal…