Are You Suffering from Depression? Your Gut Microbiome May Be Unhealthy

Are You Suffering from Depression? Your Gut Microbiome May Be Unhealthy

"Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living," according to Mayo Clinic.

width= Photo: YouTube/Mass General Brigham

It's not just a case of feeling the blues, which is easier to overcome than depression. You can make these feelings go away by relaxing, talking with people whose company you enjoy, listening to music, reading a funny book or watching a funny movie, and other activities that usually cheer your spirit.

But MDD is different. You can't shake it off easily; it hounds you day and night and for a longer period of time. For some people, it happens just once in a lifetime, but for others, it's a case of multiple episodes. The symptoms also vary depending on one's age, with MDD also afflicting children and teenagers.

width= Photo: YouTube/Mass General Brigham

In Medscape, where news of a new significant study was published, MDD is further described to be associated with disruptions in energy and lipid metabolism that is possibly caused by the interplay of blood metabolome and the gut microbiome.

It was discovered that the disorder is marked by changes in the metabolites that were consistent with the variation in the diversity of the gut microbiota.

width= Photo: YouTube/Mass General Brigham

Some of the metabolites are even involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which is a common metabolic pathway and located in the mitochondrial matrix in cells.

"As we wait to establish causal influences through clinical trials, clinicians should advise patients suffering from mood disorders to modify their diet by increasing the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as these provide the required fuel/fiber to the gut microbiota for their enrichment, and more short-chain fatty acids are produced for the optimal functioning of the body," study investigator Najaf Amin, PhD, DSc, and senior researcher at Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YGyuZxItY
Doris de Luna

For more than 20 years now, I’ve been devoting my heart, energy, and time to fulfilling my dream, which – many people may agree – is not among the easiest aspirations in life. Part of my happiness is having been able to lend a hand to many individuals, companies, and even governments as an investigative journalist, creative writer, TV director, and radio broadcaster.


At home, I spend my free time learning how to cook various cuisines. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and banoffee pie are my favorite desserts. Playing with our dogs, Mushu and Jerusalem, is also a special part of my day. And, of course, I read a lot – almost anything under the sun. But what really makes me feel alive is meeting people from various walks of life and writing about their stories, which echo with the tears and triumph of an unyielding spirit, humanity, and wisdom.

Back to blog

Help Animals That Need Medical Care

100% of your donation will fund medical care for pets in need!

1 10
View all