Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 May Prevent Postpartum Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

by | Oct 30, 2017 | 2017, Depression, Probiotics

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 significantly reduced symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression in the intervention group of 112 women compared to those in the placebo group.

women's healthIn Western countries, postpartum depression (PPD) affects about 15% of women 1. Associated with extreme fatigue, appetite and sleep disturbance, and feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness, PPD negatively affects a mother’s ability to bond and care for her infant and may also influence the socio-emotional development of the child 2,3. PPD is also commonly accompanied by anxiety. A growing body of research suggests that mood may be critically linked to the gut microbiome of the digestive tract 4, where bidirectional pathways influence the immune system, nervous system, and neuroendocrine system 5. Pre-clinical studies demonstrate that by improving gut microbial composition through probiotic supplementation, changes in brain chemistry can be achieved, leading to improved mood outcomes 5,6. Thus far, however, results have been mixed for clinical trials using probiotics as an adjuvant therapy for mood disorders. In a novel clinical trial looking at the effects of probiotic treatment on PPD, researchers in New Zealand (2017) tested the efficacy of supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 on postpartum symptoms of anxiety and depression in women.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 423 women (aged at least 16 years) at 14-16 weeks of gestation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either HN001 (6 x 109 CFU) or a corn-derived placebo daily from the enrollment period until 6 months post-birth if breastfeeding. At baseline and at follow-up, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory 6 Item version (STAI6) were administered to assess postpartum symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Researchers observed that in comparison to the placebo group, mothers in the HN001 groups experienced significantly lower symptoms of anxiety (HN001 mean = 7.7; placebo mean = 9.0; effect size = -1.2, p = 0.035) and depression (HN001 mean = 12.0; placebo mean = 13.0; effect size = -1.1, p = 0.014). Results also showed that women in the probiotic group had a significantly lower likelihood of qualifying for clinical levels of anxiety, relative to the placebo group (Odds Ratio = 0.44 (95% CI 0.26-0.73), p = 0.002).

Preliminary evidence, therefore, suggests that supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 during and after pregnancy may help to significantly lower the prevalence of postpartum symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although HN001 is notable for its ability to improve eczema 7, this strain appears to have helpful effects for mental health as well. Evidence continues to support the potential use of probiotic treatment as an adjuvant therapy in the management of mood disorders. Future studies, particularly those using cortisol or inflammatory markers as objective measurements of emotional functioning, are warranted.

Source: Slykerman RF, Hood F, Thompson JMD, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in pregnancy on postpartum symptoms of depression and anxiety: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. EBiomedicine. 2017; 24: 159-165.DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.09.013.

© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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Posted October 30, 2017.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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