The Effects of Probiotics on Mental Health and Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Petrochemical Workers Publisher Pubmed



Mohammadi AA¹ ; Jazayeri S¹ ; Khosravidarani K² ; Solati Z³ ; Mohammadpour N³ ; Asemi Z⁴ ; Adab Z³ ; Djalali M³ ; Tehranidoost M⁵ ; Hosseini M⁶ ; Eghtesadi S¹
Source: Nutritional Neuroscience Published:2016

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine effects of probiotic yogurt and multispecies probiotic capsule supplementation on mental health and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in petrochemical workers. Methods: The present randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 70 petrochemical workers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups to receive 100 g/day probiotic yogurt + one placebo capsule (n = 25) or one probiotic capsule daily + 100 g/day conventional yogurt (n = 25) or 100 g/day conventional yogurt + one placebo capsule (n = 20) for 6 weeks. Mental health parameters including general health questionnaire (GHQ) and depression anxiety and stress scale (DASS) scores were measured. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning and 6 weeks after the intervention to quantify hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Results: After 6 weeks of intervention, a significant improvement of GHQ was observed in the probiotic yogurt (18.0 ± 1.5 vs. 13.5 ± 1.9, P = 0.007) and in the probiotic capsule group (16.9 ± 1.8 vs. 9.8 ± 1.9, P = 0.001), as well as a significant improvement in DASS scores in the probiotic yogurt (23.3 ± 3.7 vs. 13.0 ± 3.7, P = 0.02) and the probiotic capsule group (18.9 ± 3.2 vs. 9.4 ± 4.0, P = 0.006). However, there was no significant improvement in the conventional yogurt group (P = 0.05 for GHQ and P = 0.08 for DASS). Discussion: The consumption of probiotic yogurt or a multispecies probiotic capsule had beneficial effects on mental health parameters in petrochemical workers. © 2016, © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2016.