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    Home » Nutrition

    Does Anxiety + Depression Start in the Gut?

    By Catherine Crow, NTP on January 14, 2021 Last Updated April 6, 2022 1 Comment | No Medical Advice | This post may contain affiliate links

    Is Your Gut the Source of Your Anxiety and Depression? | Butter NutritionWestern Medicine tells us that depression and anxiety are caused by a 'chemical imbalance.'

    But what causes that chemical imbalance?

    Because I'm more into finding out the root cause...

    For starters, consider the following:

    95% of serotonin is manufactured in the gut by your gut bacteria and the neurotransmitter serotonin is often examined when talking about depression and anxiety. Gut dysbiosis can change the delicate balance of your gut microbiome influencing the synthesis of neurotransmitters. [5,6]

    And if you dig deeper into the genetic influencers and pathways of serotonin production, you'll find even more answers. The body needs certain raw materials and cofactors (i.e. nutrients) like B6, Tryptophan (amino acid), B2 (riboflavin) and the right conditions for all this to happen (i.e. no gut infections, inflammation, and/or chronic stress that mess with serotonin production).

    Just like you can't bake a cake without the right ingredients and the right oven temperature, your body can't produce neurotransmitters like serotonin if it isn't getting what it needs and your gut isn't in good shape.

    But let's keep digging..

    Research tells us that bifidobacterium (a good gut bacteria) creates the following by fermenting the fiber that you eat (a.k.a. they eat the fiber you consume and in a sense 'poop out' the following byproducts): [1]

    • Acetate (short chain fatty acid)
    • Biotin (Vitamin B7)
    • Butyrate (short chain fatty acid, food for your colon cells)
    • Folate (B9)
    • Gamma-Amino butyric acid (GABA - helps you to feel 'calm')
    • Indole-3-propionate (neuroprotective antioxidant)
    • Lactic acid
    • L-Tryptophan (precursor to serotonin)
    • Niacin (B3)
    • Pantothenate (B5)
    • Propionate (short chain fatty acid)
    • Pyridoxine (B6 — cofactor in making serotonin)
    • Thiamine (B1)
    • Vitamin K

    Did you notice several of those listed are associated with mood (hint: folate [3], thiamine, [4] niacin, L-Tryptophan (serotonin production), B6 and GABA)?

    Pretty interesting, huh?

    Let's keep going because this is fun...

    Now let's look at another common gut bacteria, lactobacillus and its byproducts: [2]

    • Acetate (short chain fatty acid)
    • Acetylcholine
    • Biotin (Vitamin B7)
    • Butyrate short chain fatty acid)
    • CO2
    • Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)
    • D-Glucose
    • Folate (B9)
    • Gamma-Amino butyric acid (GABA)
    • Histamine
    • Hydrogen peroxide
    • Lactate
    • Lactic acid
    • Niacin (B3)
    • Pantothenate
    • Pyridoxine (B6)
    • Riboflavin (B2)
    • ß-galactosidase
    • ß-glucuronidase (estrogen related)
    • Sulfate
    • Thiamine (B1)
    • Trimethylamine
    • Tyramine
    • Vitamin K

    Similar pattern here, as you see folate, thiamine, niacin, GABA, B12, B6... 

    If this is the impact of only two bacteria in your gut, what do you think happens when you have...

    • Insufficient good gut bacteria?
    • Overgrowth of bad bacteria?
    • Take antibiotics that wipe out your good gut bacteria?
    • Don't eat enough prebiotic fiber to keep your good gut bacteria alive and thriving?

    If you're following along, you're probably seeing the direct influence your gut has on your mental health.

    Your body needs the right amount of raw materials (a.k.a nutrients) to support your body and its natural desire for health.

    If you dig deep enough, you will always find the answers!

    What would your gut bacteria reveal?

    You can learn all about my gut testing packages here and my favorite gut support products in the store.

    PIN IT:

    Does Anxiety Start in the Gut? | Butter Nutrition

    Does Anxiety Start in the Gut? | Butter Nutrition

    References:

    1. https://microbiomeprescription.com/Library/Details?taxon=1678
    2. https://microbiomeprescription.com/Library/Details?taxon=1578
    3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28759846/
    4. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7c1b/53c8c4dbfdccf441a16bcc1464b2b26c9c55.pdf
    5. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling
    6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4259177/

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    About Catherine Crow, NTP

    Hi there! I’m Catherine Crow. Seattle-based Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP), Educator, Diet Investigator, and Coconut Milk Ice Cream Enthusiast. My goal is to help guide you to improve your nutrition through strategic eating (not dieting) and without expensive supplements. Because when you know better, you can feel better! Read more...

    Affiliate Link Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please note: using an affiliate link does not change the price of the product, instead the seller pays Butter Nutrition a small commission. My thoughts on these products are my own.

    Paid Endorsement Disclosure: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

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    1. Imogen mussington

      May 29, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      Mt son has been diagonosed with schinophrenia and is on six diff meds dont seem to help much im ibterested in knowing what i can give him as i try to wesn him from the meds...im a believer in food to be our medicine..the meds are making him gain lots of weight..

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Catherine! As a nutritional therapist, my passion is education. My goal is to help guide you to improve your nutrition through strategic eating (not dieting) and without expensive supplements! Because when you know better, you can feel better! More about me →

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