Brain-Gut Axis: its paper in Anxiety Disorders
Keywords:
Brain-gut axis, mental disorders, anxiety disorders, psychobiotics, microbiota, mental healthAbstract
Background: In recent years, the brain-intestine axis and the intestinal microbiota have been the subject of study. This virtual body has demonstrated its great importance by participating in multiple functions like its ability to influence people's mental health. Objective: The general objective of this bibliographic review is to collect the most recent scientific evidence about the relationship between the brain-intestine binomial and anxiety disorders. Methods: Thus, an exhaustive search has been carried out in several metasearch engines using the period between 2018-2023. Results: The obvious link that exists between gut and brain has been confirmed, particularly in anxiety disorders. In addition, psychobiotics are presented as an alternative treatment for mood disorders. Conclusion: Although preclinical and clinical studies on the latter are increasing day by day, there is still a long way to go.
Downloads
References
Faraj J, Takanti V, Tavakoli HR. The gut-brain axis: a review of the literature and psychiatric applications. Fed Pract [Internet]. 2021;38(8):356–62. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.12788/fp.0159
Verma H, Phian S, Lakra P, Kaur J, Subudhi S, Lal R, et al. Human Gut Microbiota and Mental Health: Advancements and Challenges in Microbe-Based Therapeutic Interventions. Indian J Microbiol. 2020 Jul 7;60(4):405-19. https://doi-org.ezbusc.usc.gal/10.1007/s12088-020-00898-z
Naveed M, Zhou QG, Xu C, Taleb A, Meng F, Ahmed B, et al. Gut-brain axis: A matter of concern in neuropsychiatric disorders…! Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry [Internet]. 2021;104(110051):110051. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110051
Ancona A, Petito C, Iavarone I, Petito V, Galasso L, Leonetti A, et al. The gut-brain axis in irritable bowel síndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Dig Liver Dis [Internet]. 2021;53(3):298–305. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2020.11.026
Butler MI, Mörkl S, Sandhu KV, Cryan JF, Dinan TG. The Gut Microbiome and Mental Health: What Should We Tell Our Patients?: Le microbiote Intestinal et la Santé Mentale : que Devrions-Nous dire à nos Patients? Can J Psychiatry [Internet]. 2019;64(11):747–60. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0706743719874168
Mitrea L, Nemeş SA, Szabo K, Teleky BE, Vodnar DC. Guts Imbalance Imbalances the Brain: A Review of Gut Microbiota Association With Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Front Med (Lausanne) [Internet]. 2022;9:813204. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.813204
Accettulli A, Corbo MR, Sinigaglia M, Speranza B, Campaniello D, Racioppo A, et al. Psycho-Microbiology, a New Frontier for Probiotics: An Exploratory. Microorganismos [Internet]. 2022;10(11):2141. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10112141
Zou R, Tian P, Xu M, Zhu H, Zhao J, Zhang H, et al. Psychobiotics as a novel strategy for alleviating anxiety and depression. J Funct Foods [Internet]. 2021;86(104718):104718. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2021.104718
Shengjie L, Jing W, Tingtao C. Editorial: Gut Microbiota in the Occurrence, Development and Treatment of Gut-Brain Disorders. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology [Internet]. 2021; 11. Disponible en:. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.808454
Scott C, Anderson John F, Cryan Ted Dinan. La revolución psicobiótica. National Geographic; 2020.
Manera S. Cerebro Intestino: un vínculo indisoluble. MACRO; 2022.
Skowron K, Budzyńska A, Wiktorczyk-Kapischke N, Chomacka K, Grudlewska-Buda K, Wilk M, et al. The Role of Psychobiotics in Supporting the Treatment of Disorders of the Functioning of the Nervous System: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences [Internet].2022 Jan 1;23(14):7820. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147820
Del Toro-Barbosa M, Hurtado-Romero A, García-Amezquita LE, García-Cayuela T. Psychobiotics: Mechanisms of Action, Evaluation Methods and Effectiveness in Applications with Food Products. Nutrients [Internet]. 2020;12(12):3896. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12123896
Olorocisimo JP, Diaz LA, Co DE, Carag HM, Ibana JA, Velarde MC. Lactobacillus delbrueckii reduces anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish through a gut microbiome-brain crosstalk. Neurofarmacología [Internet]. 2023;225(109401):109401. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109401
Tran N, Zhebrak M, Yacoub C, Pelletier J, Hawley D. The gut-brain relationship: Investigating the effect of multispecies probiotics on anxiety in a randomized placebo- controlled trial of healthy young adults. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019 Jun;252:271-7. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.043.
Magalhães-Guedes KT. Psychobiotic Therapy: Method to Reinforce the Immune System. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci [Internet]. 2022;20(1):17–25. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2022.20.1.17
Bambury A, Sandhu K, Cryan JF, Dinan TG. Finding the needle in the haystack: systematic identification of psychobiotics. Br J Pharmacol [Internet]. 2018;175(24):4430–8. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.14127
Sandes S, Figueiredo N, Pedroso S, Sant'Anna F, Acurcio L, Abatemarco Junior M, et al. Weissella paramesenteroides WpK4 plays an immunobiotic role in gut-brain axis, reducing gut permeability, anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in murine models of colitis and chronic stress. Food Res Int [Internet]. 2020;137(109741):109741. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109741
Cohen Kadosh K, Basso M, Knytl P, Johnstone N, Lau JYF, Gibson GR. Psychobiotic interventions for anxiety in young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis, with youth consultation. Transl Psychiatry [Internet]. 2021;11(1):352. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01422-7
Thangaleela S, Sivamaruthi BS, Kesika P, Chaiyasut C. Role of Probiotics and Diet in the Management of Neurological Diseases and Mood States: A Review. Microorganisms [Internet]. 2022 Nov 1; 10(11):2268. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10112268
Wu SI, Wu CC, Cheng LH, Noble SW, Liu CJ, Lee YH, et al. Psychobiotic supplementation of HK-PS23 improves anxiety in highly stressed clinical nurses: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Food Funct [Internet]. 2022;13(17):8907–19. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2fo01156e
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2026-04-23 (2)
- 2026-03-31 (1)
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista Enfermeir@s
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
When publishing in the journal Enfermeir@s, the author transfers all exploitation rights of their article to the Illustrious Official College of Nursing of Lugo, which, under the conditions and limitations established by intellectual property legislation, holds the copyright.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is distributed under an international Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Any form of reproduction, distribution, public communication, or transformation of this work not included in the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license may only be carried out with the express authorization of the copyright holders, unless an exception is provided by law. You can access the full text of the license at this link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.gl.
Privacy Policy
Right to Information
For the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of April 27, 2016 (GDPR), regarding the protection of individuals concerning the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data, and Organic Law 3/2018 of December 5, on the protection of personal data and guarantee of digital rights (LOPDGDD), the user is informed of the existence of an automated processing system for personal data created by the Official College of Nursing of Lugo and under its responsibility, using the personal data provided during navigation on our website, either at the time of registration or when sending an email message.
Data Controller:
- Legal Name: Official College of Nursing of Lugo
- CIF: Q2766003D
- Address: Avenida de la Coruña 104, Entresuelo B, 27003 - Lugo (Lugo)
- Phone: 982242450
- Email for Communications: colexio@enfermerialugo.org
- Data Protection Officer Contacts:
- Phone: 984283532
- Email: delegadoprotecciondatos@prodasva.org
Purpose of Data Processing:
The purpose of processing your data is described in each of the forms provided on the website where you provide your data.
Legal Basis:
Article 6.1.a) of the GDPR: The data subject has given their consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
Data Retention and Processing:
Your data will be retained as long as necessary to address your request unless you exercise your right to deletion or until the obligations arising from the purpose for which the data was collected are fulfilled. If necessary, the Official College of Nursing of Lugo will cancel or rectify data that is inaccurate, incomplete, or no longer needed for its purpose, in accordance with current legislation on Personal Data Protection.
Unless otherwise communicated, it is understood that your data has not been modified, that you commit to notifying us of any changes, and that we have your consent to use it to strengthen the relationship between the parties.
The data provided will not be transferred to third parties unless there is a legal obligation.
The Official College of Nursing of Lugo will not create any type of "profile" based on the information provided. No automated decisions will be made based on profiles.
In compliance with Law 34/2002 on Services of the Information Society and Electronic Commerce, Article 21, we will request your consent to send advertising communications that we believe may be of interest to you, via email or other equivalent electronic communication methods.
You have the right to object to and/or withdraw consent for the processing of the aforementioned data at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal, by notifying the data controller at the addresses provided.
Technical and Organizational Measures:
The Official College of Nursing of Lugo adopts technical measures, controls, and procedures of a physical, organizational, and technological nature that are reasonably reliable and effective to preserve the integrity and security of your data and ensure your privacy. However, it assumes no responsibility for damages caused by third-party alterations to users' computer systems, electronic documents, or files.
Additionally, all personnel with access to personal data has been trained and is aware of their obligations concerning personal data processing.
Contracts with our suppliers include clauses requiring them to maintain confidentiality regarding personal data accessed due to the tasks performed. They must also implement the necessary technical and organizational security measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and resilience of personal data processing systems and services.
These security measures are periodically reviewed to ensure their adequacy and effectiveness.
Rights:
Users may exercise their rights of access, rectification, deletion, objection, restriction of processing, data portability, and not being subject to automated individual decisions concerning the data processed, by contacting the data controller at the aforementioned address or via email at colexio@enfermerialugo.org, attaching a copy of their ID or equivalent document. Alternatively, they may contact the Data Protection Officer directly.
If satisfaction is not achieved in exercising their rights, users may file a complaint with the competent Data Protection Authority, which is the Spanish Data Protection Agency. Contact details are available at https://sedeagpd.gob.es/sede-electronica-web/vistas/formNuevaReclamacion/reclamacion.jsf.
BY-NC-ND 4.0