A pilot clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has found that adding daily probiotic supplements to standard antidepressant care was associated with modest reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms in adults aged 60 and older.
Study Methodology
The study, conducted in India, involved 58 participants and was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
- The trial enrolled 58 participants aged 60 years or older who were diagnosed with moderate depression.
- Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a daily probiotic or a placebo for 12 weeks.
- All participants continued their standard antidepressant treatment throughout the study period.
- Following the 12-week intervention, participants were monitored for an additional 12 weeks.
Key Findings
Researchers used validated psychological rating scales, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) biomarker analysis, and fecal microbiota profiling to assess outcomes.
- Symptom Improvement: The group receiving probiotics showed greater reductions in scores for depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to the placebo group. However, both groups demonstrated substantial overall improvement from baseline.
- Quality of Life: No significant difference in quality-of-life improvements was observed between the probiotic and placebo groups.
- Safety: No safety concerns were reported during the trial.
Limitations and Next Steps
The researchers noted that the study was a small, preliminary trial. They stated that larger, more comprehensive studies are required to confirm the efficacy of probiotics as an adjunct treatment for depression and to identify which patient populations may benefit most.
Researcher Statements
"The results are novel and a follow-up, larger-scale clinical trial is being planned."
— Dr. Saibal Das, Indian Council of Medical Research, co-corresponding author
"A vision is to develop affordable healthcare solutions for public health impact."
— Abhinaba Ghosh, Tata Medical Center Kolkata, co-corresponding author