Inulin reduces depression in migrainesA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial to test the effect of inulin supplementation on migraine headache characteristics, quality of life and mental health symptoms in women with migraine.
We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to understand how inulin supplementation influences depression in women prone to migraines. A total of 80 participants, aged between 20 to 50 years, were given either 10 grams of inulin or a placebo daily for 12 weeks.
Throughout the study, we monitored changes in depression, anxiety, stress, and the overall quality of life. Remarkably, we observed significant improvements in mental health for those taking inulin, particularly notable reductions in depression scores. Specifically, participants in the inulin group experienced a drop of about 4.47 points in their depression scores, which was statistically significant.
While the focus of the study was primarily on migraine symptoms, these mental health improvements suggest that inulin could play a supportive role in enhancing emotional well-being for those suffering from migraines. However, it's important to note that we did not see any substantial changes in quality of life scores between the two groups. Overall, our findings advocate for the potential benefits of inulin supplementation on mental health in women facing chronic migraines.
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Inulin alleviates post-stroke depressionInulin alters gut microbiota to alleviate post-stroke depressive-like behavior associated with the IGF-1-mediated MAPK signaling pathway.
We investigated how inulin, a type of dietary fiber, may help alleviate symptoms of post-stroke depression (PSD). Our study was centered on understanding inulin's neuroprotective effects through changes in gut microbiota and its influence on signaling pathways related to depression.
By analyzing gene expression in the hippocampus after inulin intake, we found significant upregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which is crucial for neuron health. Additionally, we noted that inulin positively altered gut bacteria, increasing beneficial strains like Lactobacillus while reducing potentially harmful ones.
Notably, inulin consumption led to higher levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the blood, which correlated with the abundance of Lactobacillus. This suggests a potential link between gut health and mood improvement, as rats on an inulin-enriched diet showed increased activity levels and a preference for sweet water while losing body weight.
Overall, our findings suggest that inulin could be a promising therapeutic avenue for managing depression, particularly in individuals recovering from strokes, by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiota.
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Inulin positively affects depressionInulin Attenuates Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability and Alleviates Behavioral Disorders by Modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway in Mice with Chronic Stress.
We investigated how inulin, a type of dietary fiber, can impact depression, particularly in the context of chronic stress. Our study followed mice experiencing chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) over nine weeks, during which they were treated with inulin at a specific dosage.
The findings were quite promising. Inulin not only exhibited antidepressant and anxiolytic effects but also boosted both neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, which are important for brain health. It was observed that these benefits were linked to enhanced CREB/BDNF signaling pathways, key players in mood regulation.
An essential part of our research was the evident improvement in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Inulin helped to reduce the permeability often exacerbated by chronic stress, preventing harmful substances from penetrating the brain more deeply. We also noted that inulin influenced the inflammatory pathways in the body, specifically targeting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling, which can trigger neuroinflammation.
Additionally, we found that inulin protected the gut barrier and increased the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Notably, there was a strong correlation between the formation of these SCFAs and improvements in behavior, BBB integrity, and reduced neuroinflammation.
Overall, our study suggests that incorporating inulin into one’s diet could represent a promising nutritional strategy to combat the effects of chronic stress and improve mental health.
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Inulin shows promise against depressionInulin-type oligosaccharides of Morinda officinalis exerted antidepressant effects by reducing hippocampal inflammation.
We explored how inulin-type oligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis can impact depression by addressing inflammation in the brain. To do this, we used chronic restraint stress and lipopolysaccharide treatments to induce depression-like behaviors in mice.
Through various tests, including the sucrose preference test and tail suspension test, we observed that these stressors significantly triggered depressive symptoms in the mice alongside increased inflammation markers. The inflammation was notably evident in the hippocampus, a key area of the brain associated with mood regulation.
However, we found that when treated with IOMO—administered for either 28 days or 9 days—these depression-like behaviors were significantly reversed. Importantly, IOMO treatment also reduced the activation of microglial cells and interrupted the inflammatory process associated with depression.
Our findings suggest that inulin-type oligosaccharides may offer a promising approach to treating depression by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome in microglial cells. This opens up avenues for developing new antidepressants aimed at alleviating the inflammation linked to depression.
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High-fiber diet aids depressionHigh-Dietary Fiber Intake Alleviates Antenatal Obesity-Induced Postpartum Depression: Roles of Gut Microbiota and Microbial Metabolite Short-chain Fatty Acid Involved.
We explored the impact of a high-dietary fiber intake, specifically through inulin, on depression, particularly in mothers who faced antenatal obesity. In our study, female C57BL6/J mice were fed a high-fat diet to simulate antenatal obesity. We found that supplementing their diet with inulin significantly improved cognitive function and reduced depressive-like behaviors after their offspring were weaned.
The high dietary fiber not only assisted in uplifting mood but also enhanced the levels of important neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). Moreover, our findings indicated that this dietary change helped to reshape the gut microbiota, resulting in greater production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are beneficial for brain health.
Correlation analysis suggested a strong link between the increase in specific gut microbes and levels of SCFAs with the observed improvements in maternal behavior. Overall, we believe that incorporating high-dietary fiber into the diet presents a promising strategy to combat antenatal obesity's negative impacts on mental health, supporting the connection between gut health and emotional well-being.
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