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Clinical Evidence Review
Understanding the link between the gastrointestinal
microbiome and stress
KEY POINTS
• A prebiotic blend of beet pulp and flaxseed reached the same beneficial fecal bacteria
concentrations that are seen with commonly prescribed probiotic supplements.
• Hydrolyzed casein, also known as alpha-casozepine, has been shown to decrease
anxiety-related behavioral signs in dogs.
INTRODUCTION
The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome is the inappropriate or abnormal stress response,
ecosystem consisting of microbiota (living as seen in anxiety disorders, leads to
bacteria, protozoa, viruses and fungi) that disturbances in the hypothalamo-pituitary-
live symbiotically with the host’s GI tract. adrenal axis (HPA). Changes in the GI tract
This relationship has a direct effect on GI include decreased gastric emptying, altered
cells, the intestinal mucosal barrier, the host’s microbiome, and increased intestinal motility,
immune system, and neurons. Probiotics permeability, and visceral sensitivity. 2
1,2
are live microorganisms that provide health Resulting clinical signs may include vomiting,
benefits to the host when administered in diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
adequate amounts, whereas prebiotics are
fermentable ingredients (e.g., soluble Hydrolyzed casein (which is formed by trypsin
fibers) that provide health benefits to the hydrolysis of milk protein) ingestion has
host by changing the composition and/ been associated with significant alleviation
or activity of the GI microbiota. Both of signs of stress in models of anxiety in
3
probiotics and prebiotics have been dogs, cats, rodents, and humans. 4-6 The
shown to have positive effects on GI exact mechanism of these anxiolytic effects
health by altering the microbiome. 3 is unknown but may be mediated through
the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)/
The brain-gut-microbiome axis is the benzodiazepine receptor complex. Since
4
communication link between the central stress is postulated to play an important role
nervous system (CNS) and the GI tract. in what has been described as the brain-gut-
2
Accumulating evidence suggests that microbiome axis, reducing stress may help
exposure to stress is a risk factor in the decrease adverse changes in the GI tract. 2
pathogenesis of some GI diseases. An
2
