The decline of the immune system during stress and its relationship with the beneficial bacteria of the digestive system:
At the time of stress, we experience a decrease in the function of the immune system. Also, this weakening of the body’s immune system causes disruption of the microbial balance, especially the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the digestive system. This also applies to the entry of pathogenic viruses into the body. In this way, when the body is attacked by a virus, after the viral symptoms subside, the body faces the attack of harmful bacteria, a clear example of which is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract after a cold or flu, which requires antibiotic treatment. we find
People who are stressed, the population of beneficial bacteria in their digestive system is decreasing and the population of harmful bacteria in the digestive system is increasing.
These harmful bacteria in the digestive system cause various digestive symptoms from diarrhea to problems related to bloating symptoms. Research has shown that there are certain bacteria in the digestive system that can make a person feel refreshed during times of stress.
Scientists are investigating the relationship between the brain and the bacteria of the digestive tract, and based on this, a study was conducted on mice that showed the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteria, which is one of the resident and beneficial bacteria of the digestive tract. Check the anxiety in it.
To better understand the neurotransmitters in the body, it is necessary to know that for the exchange of messages in our nerve cells, we have a neurotransmitter called GABA. GABA receptors in the brain decrease during depression, and other GABA receptors in the brain increase during stress and anxiety.
In mice that were fed Lactobacillus rhamnosus, the number of GABA receptors associated with depression increased and GABA receptors associated with stress and anxiety decreased.
Also, the amount of stress, depression, and anxiety miraculously decreased in mice that were fed Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteria.
Research has shown that the connection between the brain and the digestive system is carried out by the vagus nerve. Based on this, in the mice that used the above bacteria, by cutting the vagus nerve, the connection between the digestive system and the brain was interrupted, and as a result, the bacteria did not have an effect on reducing the symptoms of stress and anxiety, which shows that the connection between the bacteria of the digestive system and The brain is formed through the vagus nerve.
Conclusion: This relationship shows that the change of bacteria in the digestive system due to a certain disease or the use of antibiotics can have a role in our behavior. This relationship has been announced many times by experts in the livestock community that use probiotics.
(Abdullahi: Based on this, in industrial poultry, ostrich and livestock flocks, there have been reports of reducing stress, increasing freshness and vitality in livestock, which confirms the evident effects of probiotic consumption on reducing stress in living organisms.)
Of course, in order to gain expertise in the field of effects of bacteria and the immune system, more research should be done to select specific strains of bacteria for the desired cases, but in general, the relationship between the bacteria of the digestive system and the nervous system has been proven.
Taken from the book Probiotics by Dr. Shikhar Chala
Compiler: Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Abdulahi
This post is written by dr_m_abdollahi