Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Ingredient Name
- Food Ingredients Functions
- Pharma & Nutraceuticals Functions
- Ingredients
- Bifidobacterium Lactis, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Salivarius, Lactobacillus Casei, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Lactobacillus brevis
Features & Benefits
- Food Ingredients Features
- Product Background
Mental disorders, depression in particular, are becoming a global epidemic. Worldwide, more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression1 . A variety of lifestyle and environmental changes may be responsible for the increased prevalence of mental disorders. One specific area of interest is the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and mental health (figure 1).
Figure 1: The microbiota-gut-brain axis.
The gut microbiota is essential for human health by protecting against pathogens and digesting food2 . However, the influence of the microbiota extends beyond the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, playing an important role in the bidirectional communication between the GI tract and the central nervous system (CNS). This connection is also called the gutbrain axis3 . The high co-morbidity between psychiatric disorders with GI conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease supports the evidence of the existence of this axis4,5,6. The intestinal barrier appears to play an important role in the communication between the gut and the brain. An impaired barrier function negatively influences hormones, immune cells, and bacterial metabolites that affect the gut-brain axis7 . Research has shown that probiotics can positively influence the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function. This raises the question whether probiotics can influence brain functioning as well. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of probiotics to influence the gut-brain axis and consequently brain functioning8 .
- Strain Selection
Ecologic® BARRIER is a multispecies probiotic formulation consisting of 9 specially selected probiotic strains. Probiotic strains can exert health effects at different levels in the gut (see figure 2). The probiotic strains of Ecologic® BARRIER have been selected for their capacity to strengthen the intestinal barrier function (level 2) and reduce low grade inflammation9 (level 3). The strains have been screened for their capacity to:
- Improve the intestinal barrier function
- Inhibit mast cell activation
- Stimulate IL-10 production
- Break down lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
Applications & Uses
- Markets
- Food & Nutrition Applications
Properties
Regulatory & Compliance
- Certifications & Compliance
Technical Details & Test Data
- Clinical Evidence
The effect of Ecologic® BARRIER on vulnerability for depression was tested in a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, human trial, performed by Leiden University, The Netherlands. The researchers investigated the effect of Ecologic® BARRIER on cognitive reactivity to sad mood using the Leiden Index of depression sensitivity scale (LEIDS-r). Forty healthy participants received 2 grams Ecologic® BARRIER or placebo for 4 weeks. The results showed that Ecologic® BARRIER significantly reduced overall cognitive reactivity to sad mood10 (see figure 3). In addition, Researchers from University of Technology Sydney, Australia, conducted a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of Ecologic® BARRIER in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Seventy-one participants were randomized to receive 4 grams of Ecologic BARRIER or placebo for 8 weeks. The symptoms severity improved in both groups. Ecologic® BARRIER significantly reduced cognitive reactivity, particularly in mild to moderate depressed individuals.11
Multiple, placebo-controlled, rat studies were performed with Ecologic® BARRIER by Aarhus University, Denmark, using wild type rats and a genetic rat model for depression.12-15 In the genetic model, Ecologic® BARRIER reduced risk taking behavior and prevented the exacerbation of depressive-like behavior normally induced by a high-fat diet. In the wild-type rats, Ecologic® BARRIER significantly reduced depressive-like behavior, measured by a forced swim test (see figure 4), and differences in gut microbiota between responder and non-responder animals were identified. Ecologic® BARRIER influenced gene-expression in the hippocampus and altered immunological and metabolic markers, explaining the positive outcomes.
Moreover, researchers from Radboud University Nijmegen and Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behavior, The Netherlands, performed a double-blind, placebo- controlled, randomized, human trial with Ecologic® BARRIER. The researchers investigated the effect on neurocognition, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and stress-induced working memory performance measured by a Digit Span Backwards test. 58 participants received 2 grams of Ecologic® BARRIER or placebo for 4 weeks. Ecologic® BARRIER significantly increased working memory performance16 (see figure 5). Ecologic® BARRIER buffered against the damaging effects of stress on brain functioning.
Figure 3: LEIDS-r scores before and after 4 weeks of supplementation with Ecologic® B
Figure 4: Seconds of immobility during the Forced Swim Test. *Significant decrease, p<0.001
