Evidence supporting the use of: Lactobacillus (unspecified)
For the health condition: Anxiety Disorders

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lactobacillus species, a type of probiotic bacteria, have been investigated for their potential role in supporting mental health, including anxiety disorders. While the tradition of using probiotics for mental health is limited, scientific interest has grown in recent years due to the emerging concept of the "gut-brain axis." Several preclinical and small-scale clinical studies have explored how certain strains of Lactobacillus might influence mood and anxiety by modulating gut microbiota, impacting inflammation, and affecting neurotransmitter systems such as GABA. A few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans have assessed the effects of probiotic supplementation (including various Lactobacillus strains) on self-reported anxiety symptoms. Some studies have observed modest reductions in anxiety scores, but findings are inconsistent, and most research involves multi-strain probiotics rather than isolated Lactobacillus species. A 2019 meta-analysis (Ng et al., 2018, Journal of Affective Disorders) found that probiotics had a small but significant benefit on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, but the effect size was limited and more robust trials are needed. Overall, while there is some scientific evidence—primarily from animal studies and preliminary human trials—supporting the use of Lactobacillus for anxiety, the evidence is not strong or conclusive. More large-scale, well-designed clinical trials are required before Lactobacillus can be confidently recommended as a treatment for anxiety disorders.

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