Do Intestinal Bacteria Affect Our Emotions?

For centuries, the Latin saying “Mens sana in corpore san” has been used  , which is translated into Finnish as “A healthy mind in a healthy body”. This saying still seems to be true even in the light of research findings.

Although the current interpretation of the saying is completely different from its original meaning, recent studies show that a healthy body is inhabited by a healthy mind, which can be understood on several different levels. Evidence to support this theory must now be presented in an important field of research from recent years. This study examines the relationship between intestinal bacteria, the brain, and emotions.

Some time ago, scientists discovered a surprising connection between emotions and intestinal bacteria. As a result,  intestinal bacteria have become a burning topic for researchers in recent years.

The close relationship between intestinal bacteria and the brain

We all know the feeling when we have butterflies in our stomachs. Recent studies have shown that there is another side to this metaphor. Since the early 2000s, researchers have looked at the link between intestinal bacteria and mental health.

However, this is not a completely new research topic. Doctors and researchers wrote a lot about the link between intestinal bacteria and mental health as early as the early 20th century. The aim of the study was how the contents of the colon and especially the harmful bacteria living there can cause fatigue, depression and neuroses.

The scientists initially rejected the first research findings and hypotheses about the effect of intestinal bacteria on the brain as a kind of pseudoscience. About 15 years ago, however, researchers began to re-examine the connection between intestinal bacteria and the brain. While researchers have continued to explore this topic, they have found that there is in fact a two-way interaction between the brain and intestinal bacteria.

The brain affects the immune system and the functioning of the digestive tract.  These functions can, in fact, change the composition of the intestinal microbiome. Intestinal bacteria also produce neuroactive substances, ie substances that act on the central nervous system, neurotransmitters, ie brain neurotransmitters, and other metabolites, ie metabolites that affect the brain.

Studies in mice have shown that some of these substances may affect the permeability, or permeability, of the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier, as its name implies, forms a physical barrier that prevents harmful substances in the bloodstream from entering the central nervous system and brain.

Intestinal bacteria and mood

Some years ago, researchers began to focus their attention on the effects that intestinal bacteria can have on emotions. The researchers found that microorganisms in the gut secrete large amounts of chemicals. Among them are the same substances that are used by nerve cells, or neurons, for chemical communication and thus for the regulation of mood.

These mediators include dopamine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These neurotransmitters appear to play a role in intestinal disorders that occur at the same time as a person has severe depression and anxiety.

In addition to this, we have known for some time that much of human neurochemical production originates in the gut. It is from there that these chemical signals regulate the feeling of appetite and satiety as well as digestion. It was not until a few years ago that scientists began to consider the role of microbes in the release of these specific chemicals.

Interaction between brain and intestinal bacteria

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, in Los Angeles, recently identified intestinal microbiota. It interacts with areas of the brain that are related to mood and behavior. This may be the first time that researchers have identified differences in behavior and neurobiological characteristics associated with microbial composition in healthy humans. Prior to this, scientists conducted all studies in this field in animals.

This study confirms that the interaction between the brain and intestinal bacteria is important for human health and behavior. Previous studies suggest that the intestinal  microbiota or normal flora, i.e. the community of microorganisms in the intestine, may influence human behavior and emotions.

We can consider whether the gut has an effect on the brain or whether the brain has an effect on the gut. It is not clear whether the gut has an effect on the brain and its development or vice versa. Researchers in the field warn against drawing causal conclusions because this is a fresh field of research. Much of the extensive research in this area is still underway.

Importance of intestinal bacteria

Research into the effect of intestinal bacteria on the brain is currently underway. There are several different issues to be addressed. To date, the following conclusions have been drawn from various studies:

• The intestinal microbiota forms a large number of bacteria that are important for a functioning metabolism and efficient brain function.
• Communication between the gut and the brain takes place through connections between nerve cells.
• Intestinal microbiota is important during early human development and can affect the brain-regulating connections of the brain.
• Probiotics or so-called “good bacteria” can have a positive effect on mood symptoms.

Intestinal bacteria undoubtedly have important effects on our health and mood. Intestinal bacteria can be considered part of a complex and complex body communication system. It is essential to our well-being that we maintain a healthy balance in the brain. In the meantime, while we wait for new studies to be released, we should take care of our bodies and listen to the messages sent by our bodies.