Your gut bacteria influences how you handle stress, study suggests- and could be used to personalize mental health treatment

Your gut bacteria influences how you handle stress, study suggests- and could be used to personalize mental health treatment READ MORE: The THREE little-known signs that your gut isn't healthy By Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 16:48, 25 June 2024 | Updated: 17:32, 25 June 2024 e-mail 5 View comments Healthy bacteria in your gut could be the key to tackling stress, a study suggests. Researchers in California looked at more than 100 adults without mental health conditions and conducted surveys about their mental health and resiliency.

They were then divided into two groups: high and low resiliency. Each participant also underwent MRI scans and provided stool samples. The team found the high resiliency group had lower inflammation and a stronger gut barrier than those who were less resilient.

A strong barrier is essential for absorbing nutrients and blocking toxins from the gut. They did not look at patients with mental health conditions. The relationship is based on the direct communication between the brain and the digestive system.

An example includes the gut sending hunger or satiety signals to the brain. The researchers said these findings could lead to treatments that can use gut bacteria to personalize mental health care. Researchers at the UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center suggested more resilient people have stronger gut barriers and microbiomes Dr Arpana Gupta, senior study author and co-director of the UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Cente.