title: Effect of Probiotics on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: It has been reported that gut probiotics play a major role in the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. Probiotics may be essential to people with depression, which remains a global health challenge, as depression is a metabolic brain disorder. However, the efficacy of probiotics for depression is controversial. This study aimed to systematically review the existing evidence on the effect of probiotics-based interventions on depression. Randomized, controlled trials, identified through screening multiple databases and grey literature, were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software using a fixed-effects model. The meta-analysis showed that probiotics significantly decreased the depression scale score (MD (depressive disorder) = -0.30, 95% CI (-0.51--0.09), p = 0.005) in the subjects. Probiotics had an effect on both the healthy population (MD = -0.25, 95% CI (-0.47--0.03), p = 0.03) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (MD = -0.73, 95% CI (-1.37--0.09), p = 0.03). Probiotics had an effect on the population aged under 60 (MD = -0.43, 95% CI (-0.72--0.13), p = 0.005), while it had no effect on people aged over 65 (MD = -0.18, 95% CI (-0.47-0.11), p = 0.22). This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis with the goal of determining the effect of probiotics on depression. We found that probiotics were associated with a significant reduction in depression, underscoring the need for additional research on this potential preventive strategy for depression.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental health, Xiangya school of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China. huangruixue@csu.edu.cn.
authors: Ruixue
authors: R
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental health, Xiangya school of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China. wangke2138@126.com.
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental health, Xiangya school of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China. huja_xy@126.com.
authors: Jianan
authors: J
authors: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D064806:Dysbiosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk
keywords: depression; meta-analysis; probiotics; randomized controlled trial