The absence of some intestinal bacteria may increase the risk of depression



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A team of Belgian researchers badyzed stool samples from more than 1,000 volunteers and found that two families of bacteria were consistently lower in depressed people, including those on antidepressants.

The study based on a 1,000 control group validated these findings because of a statistical relationship between the number of certain bacteria and the reported level of well-being and mental health, explains the Article published in the journal Nature

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Families of Bacteria Involved –

Families of Bacteria Involved – The study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, explains Jeroen Raes, l & # 39; one of the authors, adding that understanding of the links between the intestine and the brain remains unclear. Coprococcus and Dialister – are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. "But we also know that nerve tissue inflammation plays an important role in depression, so our hypothesis is that the two are linked in one way or another," said France. -Presse the professor of microbiology at the University of Michigan. KU Leuven

"The idea that substances derived from the metabolism of microbes can interact with our brain – and therefore with our behavior and our feelings – is intriguing," comments Jeroen Raes.

"Until now, most studies have focused on mice or a small number of people and the results were mixed and contradictory," he told AFP.

A Silent Epidemic

About 300 million people worldwide suffer from according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Pathology, sometimes described as a "silent epidemic," is one of the leading causes of about 800,000 suicides each year.

Antidepressants are currently among the most prescribed drugs in many countries, but this study could pave the way for new types of treatment for this disease, says Raes

"I really believe it's a way to follow: use mixtures of bacteria as treatment, "he says.

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