A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of a probiotic in

emotional symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gut Pathog. 2009 Mar 19;1(1):6.

Rao AV, Bested AC, Beaulne TM, Katzman MA, Iorio C, Berardi JM, Logan AC.

Integrative Care Centre of Toronto, 3600 Ellesmere Road, Unit 4, Toronto,

Ontario M1C 4Y8, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is complex illness of unknown etiology. Among

the broad range of symptoms, many patients report disturbances in the

emotional realm, the most frequent of which is anxiety. Research shows that

patients with CFS and other so-called functional somatic disorders have

alterations in the intestinal microbial flora. Emerging studies have

suggested that pathogenic and non-pathogenic gut bacteria might influence

mood-related symptoms and even behavior in animals and humans. In this pilot

study, 39 CFS patients were randomized to receive either 24 billion colony

forming units of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) or a placebo daily

for two months. Patients provided stool samples and completed the Beck

Depression and Beck Anxiety Inventories before and after the intervention.

We found a significant rise in both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in

those taking the LcS, and there was also a significant decrease in anxiety

symptoms among those taking the probiotic vs controls (p = 0.01). These

results lend further support to the presence of a gut-brain interface, one

that may be mediated by microbes that reside or pass through the intestinal

tract.

PMID: 19338686 [PubMed - in process]

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