Gut feelings: the relations between depression, anxiety, psychotropic drugs and the gut microbiome

• DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2281360
• Publication Date: 2023-11-29T05:23:52Z
• Authors: S. Brushett; R. Gacesa; A. Vich Vila; M.F. Brandao Gois; S. Andreu-Sánchez; J.C. Swarte; M.A.Y. Klaassen; V. Collij; T. Sinha; L.A. Bolte; J. Wu; M. Swertz; M.L.A. de Kroon; S.A. Reijneveld; C. Wijmenga; R.K. Weersma; J. Fu; H.M. van Loo; A. Kurilshikov; A. Zhernakova
• Keywords: Depression

The gut microbiome is involved in the bi-directional relationship of – brain axis. As most studies this are small and do not account for use psychotropic drugs (PTDs), we explored relations with several internalizing disorders, while adjusting PTDs other relevant medications, 7,656 Lifelines participants from Northern Netherlands (5,522 controls 491 at least one disorder). Disorders included dysthymia, major depressive disorder (MDD), any (AnyDep: dysthymia or MDD), generalized anxiety (GAD) (AnyAnx: GAD, social phobia panic Compared to controls, 17 species were associated disorders 3 disorders. Around 90% these associations remained significant (FDR <0.05) after adjustment PTD use, suggesting that drove associations. Negative observed butyrate-producing bacteria Ruminococcus bromii AnyDep Bifidobacterium bifidum AnyAnx participants, along many others. Tryptophan glutamate synthesis modules 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid module (related dopamine metabolism) negatively MDD and/or dysthymia. After additional functional gastrointestinal irritable bowel syndrome, either statistically nominally (P < 0.05) significant. Overall, multiple bacterial including components, moderate. These findings suggest rather than differences relative controls.