The effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 in patients with major depressive disorder: an eight-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex mental disorder, potentially linked to the gut-microbiota-brain axis. Probiotics like Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) may improve depressive symptoms by modulating the gut microbiota based on our previous open trial. We conducted an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the impact of PS128 on depression severity, markers of inflammation and gut permeability, and the gut microbiota composition in 32 patients with MDD with stable antidepressant treatment but moderate symptom severity.

Exploring the human gut microbiota targets in relation to the use of contemporary antidepressants.

Background: Antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are commonly prescribed for depression treatment. Animal studies have shown that antidepressants can influence gut microbiota composition and specific bacterial taxa. We aimed to investigate the association between antidepressant use and human gut microbiota composition and functional pathway.