UC Researching One of the Largest Studies On Depression
UC Researching One of the Largest Studies On
Depression
April 30,
2013
A University of Canterbury (UC)
researcher is undertaking a large study testing the effects
of probiotics on people suffering depression.
A UC
psychology research PhD student Amy Romijn is specifically
carrying out her study looking at probiotics in a depressed
population.
``This is the biggest study on people
who have overt psychological symptoms. Other academic
studies have investigated the effects of probiotics versus
placebo on mostly healthy volunteers,’’ Romijn
says.
``One in six New Zealanders will experience
serious depression at some time in their life. About one in
seven young people in New Zealand will experience a major
depressive disorder before the age of 24.
``Women
have higher rates of depression than men. One in five women,
compared with one in eight men, will have depression over
their lifetime.
``The World Health Organisation
estimates that by the year 2020, depression will be the
second most common cause of ill health and premature
worldwide.
``I hope my study will find that
treatment with probiotics changes the levels of certain
substances in the blood and the brain, essentially making
people happier. I will be testing 80 people over a 16-week
period.
``We want to find out if probiotics are
more effective than a placebo in reducing the psychological
symptoms of depression.
``There are many links in
the literature which lead us to believe that probiotics will
work to treat depression. Many studies have had success in
treating symptoms of stress and inflammation with probiotics
and there is a firm association between stress and
depression and biological links between depression and
inflammation.
``We’re also trying to find out
about the way probiotics exert their effects on
psychological symptoms by measuring for chemicals in blood
samples. Higher stress levels are associated with lowered
friendly gut bacteria so it’s probably a two way
street,’’ Romijn says.
Researchers believe
probiotics helps depression but the UC research, supervised
by Associate Professor Julia Rucklidge, seeks to find out
how. Participants in the study will be screened via
www.mentalhealthandnutrition.co.nz.
Amy Romijn with probiotics
ENDS