Health Citizens – European Research Institute

Tag: Anxiety

  • Regulatory Effects of Probiotics on Anxiety and Depression‑Like Behaviors in H. pylori‑Infected Rats

    Regulatory Effects of Probiotics on Anxiety and Depression‑Like Behaviors in H. pylori‑Infected Rats

    In a recent experimental study, researchers used rats to explore whether the use of probiotics such as Lactobacillus can mitigate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, counteracting the psychological and biological effects of H. pylori infection. Infected rats were treated with each probiotic alone or with the combination, and were then evaluated using standard behavioral tests for anxiety and depression.

    Both probiotics, especially when co-administered, reversed the depressive and anxiogenic effects induced by H. pylori. Probiotic supplementation also corrected several brain changes linked to H. pylori, including oxidative stress, inflammation, reduced BDNF/serotonin, and elevated corticosterone.

    The findings suggest that multi-strain probiotics may help manage psychiatric symptoms associated with H. pylori infection, and that they merit further clinical evaluation in patients with psychiatric comorbidities.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-025-10674-4

    Reference

    Ahmadi-Soleimani, S.M., Masoudi, M., Tabrizi, A.M.A. et al. Regulatory Effects of Probiotics on Anxiety and Depression-Like Behaviors in H. pylori-Infected Rats. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. (2025)

  • Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and depression and anxiety has been reported in the literature.

    A meta-analysis was developed in 2024 with the aim of investigating the association between H. pylori infection with these mental health conditions. The systematic search was conducted not only in international sources such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, but also in Chinese databases, and looked for observational studies that reported the incidence or prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with H. pylori infection.

    Surprisingly, while the findings of this analysis showed a significant positive association between the bacteria and anxiety disorders, the association with depression appeared to be insignificant. Nevertheless, this finding seems to imply that clinicians treating H. pylori patients should also address their psychological well-being.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9247586

    Reference

    Li, Lu, Ren, Yadi, Wang, Zeyu, Niu, Yanqing, Zhao, Ying, Aihaiti, Xiaherezhati, Ji, Yinglan, Li, Man, Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2024, 9247586, 9 pages, 2024.

  • Rapamycin Attenuates Anxiety and Depressive Behavior Induced by Helicobacter pylori in Association with Reduced Circulating Levels of Ghrelin

    Rapamycin Attenuates Anxiety and Depressive Behavior Induced by Helicobacter pylori in Association with Reduced Circulating Levels of Ghrelin

    In this experimental study, researchers investigated how H. pylori infection influences depression-like behavior and certain biological markers in mice, focusing especially on the hormone ghrelin.

    Mice infected with the bacteria showed more anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in standard laboratory tests compared with healthy mice. They moved less, showed more signs of stress, and had lower preference for sweet solutions, a common indicator of loss of pleasure.
    Biologically, H. pylori infection led to reduced circulating ghrelin levels and activation of the mTOR signaling pathway in the stomach. It was also associated with increased markers of brain inflammation and cell injury in the hippocampus, a brain region important for mood regulation. When mice were treated with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, ghrelin levels increased and brain-inflammation markers were reduced.

    Overall, the study suggests that H. pylori infection may contribute to anxiety- and depression-like behaviors by lowering ghrelin levels and increasing neuroinflammation, highlighting a potential biological link between gut infection and mental health.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2847672

    Reference

    Tian, Jiageng, Wang, Zeyu, Ren, Yadi, Jiang, Yong, Zhao, Ying, Li, Man, Zhang, Zhiguang, Rapamycin Attenuates Anxiety and Depressive Behavior Induced by Helicobacter pylori in Association with Reduced Circulating Levels of Ghrelin, Neural Plasticity, 2022, 2847672, 8 pages, 2022.

  • Correlation between social factors and anxiety-depression in function dyspepsia: do relationships exist?

    Correlation between social factors and anxiety-depression in function dyspepsia: do relationships exist?

    A research study conducted on the Chinese population in 2014 aimed at evaluating the prevalence and the social factors linked to anxiety and depression in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). This study included 907 patients with FD who attended a gastroenterology service.

    Despite being a hospital-based study, results showed that patients with functional dyspepsia had higher anxiety and depression scores when compared to data from the general population. They also found that a higher prevalence of A/D was observed in women, older individuals, those with lower socioeconomic status (lower wages, lower education levels), and those with more stressful jobs, making these aspects risk factors for the development of A/D. Interestingly, they found no differences in relation to family history.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.5114/pg.2014.47897

    Reference

    Huang, Z., Yang, X., Lan, L., Liu, T., Liu, C., & Li, J. et al. (2014). Correlation between social factors and anxiety-depression in function dyspepsia: do relationships exist?. Gastroenterology Review/Przegląd Gastroenterologiczny, 9(6), 348-353.