Volume 10, Issue 2 (May 2023)
Avicenna J Neuro Psycho Physiology 2023, 10(2): 56-57 |
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Bhatia G, Parmar A. Gut-brain axis and alcohol dependence: Exploring the role of Psychobiotics in treatment. Avicenna J Neuro Psycho Physiology 2023; 10 (2) :56-57
URL: http://ajnpp.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-445-en.html
URL: http://ajnpp.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-445-en.html
1- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot , gayatribhatia90@gmail.com
2- ll India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar
2- ll India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar
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The role of the gut in alcohol and drug dependence has been studied recently. It has been proposed that chronic alcohol use leads to an adverse impact on the gut, including increased intestinal permeability and alteration in gut microbiota [3]. This may allow gut microbiota to reach systemic circulation, causing a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the important mediators of gut-brain axis response. The caused neuroinflammation leads to changes in emotions, mood, and behaviors (including drinking). Peptidoglycans and lipopolysaccharides from gut microorganisms are also found to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which have been found to be associated with alcohol cravings, as per recent research [4].
Alcohol-dependence patients with gut leakiness have higher anxiety, depression, and alcohol craving even after 3-week abstinence, suggesting their potential role in alcohol relapse [5]. Gut microbiota are known to cause alterations in the brain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine (a commonly involved neurotransmitter in the reward pathway), serotonin, GABA, and Glycine [5]. Stress is an important risk factor in the development of drug dependence and is governed by the HPA axis, an axis known to be affected by the gut microbiota [6]. Apart from stress, depression and anxiety are among the most common psychiatric comorbidities associated with drug dependence. Furthermore, leaky gut and inflammation are also reported in non-cirrhotic alcohol dependence; moreover, systemic inflammation and alcohol craving have been linked to depression [7]. Therefore, psycho-biotics might have a role in the treatment of alcohol dependence (with or without anxiety/depression/
stress). One study suggested an altered brain response to emotional stimuli after the administration of probiotics, a mechanism that may have a role in dealing with alcohol-related cues [8].
In conclusion, gut microorganisms may have a role in alcohol dependence, and therefore, there is a need to study this further in the context of alcohol dependence. The gut microbiota modulation using psychobiotics and its impact on drinking-related behavioral aspects need to be studied in rigorously conducted randomized controlled trials.
References
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Dear Editor
The relationship between the gut and brain which is regulated at immune, endocrinal, and neural levels, has been established for decades. Alteration in the gut microbiota has been shown to impact the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis negatively and predisposes an individual to stress-related disorders. The brain affects GI motility, blood flow, and microbiota composition. Many microbiotas have been found to produce tryptophan, tyrosine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Glycine, and other amino acids, performing a major role in mood, cognition, behavior, and pain sensitivity [1]. The term “psychobiotics” has been coined for micro-organisms that, when ingested in sufficient amounts, may have beneficial effects on psychiatric illnesses. Psychobiotics have been studied in animal models and among humans with various psychiatric illnesses, including depression, anxiety, autism, irritable bowel syndrome, and other stress-related conditions [1]. Many randomized controlled trials suggest some beneficial effects of psychobiotics on these psychiatric conditions [2]. These studies provide evidence regarding the possible effective-ness of psychobiotics in stress-related responses in certain psychiatric conditions.The role of the gut in alcohol and drug dependence has been studied recently. It has been proposed that chronic alcohol use leads to an adverse impact on the gut, including increased intestinal permeability and alteration in gut microbiota [3]. This may allow gut microbiota to reach systemic circulation, causing a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the important mediators of gut-brain axis response. The caused neuroinflammation leads to changes in emotions, mood, and behaviors (including drinking). Peptidoglycans and lipopolysaccharides from gut microorganisms are also found to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which have been found to be associated with alcohol cravings, as per recent research [4].
Alcohol-dependence patients with gut leakiness have higher anxiety, depression, and alcohol craving even after 3-week abstinence, suggesting their potential role in alcohol relapse [5]. Gut microbiota are known to cause alterations in the brain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine (a commonly involved neurotransmitter in the reward pathway), serotonin, GABA, and Glycine [5]. Stress is an important risk factor in the development of drug dependence and is governed by the HPA axis, an axis known to be affected by the gut microbiota [6]. Apart from stress, depression and anxiety are among the most common psychiatric comorbidities associated with drug dependence. Furthermore, leaky gut and inflammation are also reported in non-cirrhotic alcohol dependence; moreover, systemic inflammation and alcohol craving have been linked to depression [7]. Therefore, psycho-biotics might have a role in the treatment of alcohol dependence (with or without anxiety/depression/
stress). One study suggested an altered brain response to emotional stimuli after the administration of probiotics, a mechanism that may have a role in dealing with alcohol-related cues [8].
In conclusion, gut microorganisms may have a role in alcohol dependence, and therefore, there is a need to study this further in the context of alcohol dependence. The gut microbiota modulation using psychobiotics and its impact on drinking-related behavioral aspects need to be studied in rigorously conducted randomized controlled trials.
References
- Parmar A. Gut–brain axis, psychobiotics, and mental health. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2016; 100(22):84-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2016.05.004] [PMID]
- Cheng LH, Liu YW, Wu CC, Wang S, Tsai YC. Psychobiotics in mental health, neurodegenerative and neuro
developmental disorders. Journal of food and drug analysis.
2019; 27(3):632-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2019.01.002] [PMID] [PMCID] - Leclercq S, de Timary P, Delzenne NM, Stärkel P. The link between inflammation, bugs, the intestine and the brain in alcohol dependence. Translational psychiatry. 2017 Feb;7(2):e1048. [DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.15] [PMID]
- Leclercq S, De Saeger C, Delzenne N, de Timary P, Stärkel P. Role of inflammatory pathways, blood mononuclear cells, and gut-derived bacterial products in alcohol dependence. Biological psychiatry. 2014; 76(9):725-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.
biopsych.2014.02.003] [PMID] - Leclercq S, Matamoros S, Cani PD, Neyrinck AM, Jamar F, Stärkel P, et al. Intestinal permeability, gut-bacterial dysbiosis, and behavioral markers of alcohol-dependence severity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2014; 111(42):4485-93. [DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1415174111] [PMID] [PMCID]
- Rosin S, Xia K, Azcarate-Peril MA, Carlson AL, Propper CB, Thompson AL, et al. A preliminary study of gut microbiome variation and HPA axis reactivity in healthy infants. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021; 124:105046. [DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105046] [PMID] [PMCID]
- Leclercq S, Cani PD, Neyrinck AM, Stärkel P, Jamar F, Mikolajczak M, et al. Role of intestinal permeability and inflammation in the biological and behavioral control of alcohol-dependent subjects. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2012; 26(6):911-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.04.001] [PMID]
- Tillisch K, Labus J, Kilpatrick L, Jiang Z, Stains J, Ebrat B, et al. Consumption of fermented milk product with probiotic modulates brain activity. Gastroenterology. 2013; 144(7):1394-401. [DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.02.043] [PMID] [PMCID]
Article Type: Letter to editor |
Subject:
Substance abuse, dependence, addiction
Received: 2023/01/21 | Accepted: 2023/05/25 | Published: 2023/07/9
Received: 2023/01/21 | Accepted: 2023/05/25 | Published: 2023/07/9
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