Efeito do uso de probióticos sobre os sintomas da depressão: revisão sistemática

Abstract

Introduction: Considered the “evil of the century”, depression is a contemporary phenomenon, due to the high epidemiological indices. Scientific studies demonstrate that the use of probiotics can be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms, as they can act on stimuli in the brain centers that initiate behavioral responses. Objective: Systematically review, randomized clinical studies involving probiotic supplementation and its effects on depressive symptoms. Methodology: A systematic search in the SciELO, BVS, Pubmed and LILACS databases was performed, resulting in the selection of 10 double and triple-blind clinical studies, randomized and placebo-controlled on the use of probiotics as an adjuvant treatment for depression. Data were presented in a table, containing information such as probiotic strains, treatment duration and psychological outcome. Results: Eight articles showed a significant beneficial effect regarding the reduction of depressive symptoms or depression scales, with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium being the most used probiotic strains. Conclusion: The use of probiotics to alleviate depressive symptoms shows promising results, but larger and more rigorous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are still needed to assess these conclusions.