Professor Ted Dinan on The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood Food and the New Science of The Gut Brain Connection

Kriben Govender (Honours Degree in Food Science & Technology) and James Shadrach (Honours Degree in Psychology) interview the father of Psychobiotics, Professor Ted Dinan.  We discuss how the gut and brain is connected, and the future of probiotics, prebiotics and food as a treatment option for IBS, anxiety, depression, stress and mood management.   Bio: Ted Dinan is Professor of Psychiatry at University College Cork. He was previously Chair of Clinical Neurosciences and Professor of Psychological Medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.  Prior to that, he was a Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.   He has worked in research laboratories on both sides of the Atlantic and has a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of London.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.  His main research interest is on the role of the gut microbiota in influencing brain function and development.  Within this context he has focused on depression and irritable bowel syndrome. He has made significant contributions to the literature on the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in situations of stress.  In 1995 was awarded the Melvin Ramsey Prize for this research into the biology of stress. His current research is funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board and the European Union through FP7.  He has published over 400 papers and numerous books on the pharmacology and neurobiology of affective disorders.   Research interests:   The “Brain-Gut-Microbe Axis” research  addresses the communication between the brain and gut and how it can be influenced by the gastrointestinal microbiota. This is an area of significance in infancy, where important links between diet, microbes and cognition are established. The influence of the microbiota on obesity and metabolic syndrome are also increasingly recognised. A better understanding of the role of this axis in the stress response, and its links with other debilitating psychiatric conditions, will help provide new treatment and management strategies – these will represent opportunities for both the food ingredients business and the pharmaceutical industry. Within this context papers Prof. Dinan’s group  have promoted the concept of Psychobiotics, probiotics that have a mental health benefit.   Professional activities: Prof. Dinan runs a clinic for treatment refractory depression at Cork University Hospital.  The research focus at this clinic is on biomarkers of response and the development of new therapies.   Publications: Please see  http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2316-7220   Topics discussed:   Brain Gut - Microbiome Axis What are Psychobiotics? Modulating the gut Microbiome to treat psychological disease and improve mental health Species of Psychobiotic bacteria Probiotic health claims  European Food Safety Standard for claiming health benefits of probiotic  Food industry issues on probiotic health claims Convergence of Food and Pharma Treatment options for Mental health issues How the Gut and Brains are connected? Bi- directional Vagus communication Bacterial communication via the vagus nerve Importance of short chain fatty acids via Fibre Tryptophan metabolism  Synthesis of Tryptophan by gut microbiota Immune system cytokines and brain activity Decline of Bifidobacteria with age The effect of Bifidobacterium longum 1714 on tryptophan levels and mood https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27801892 Mechanism of tryptophan and stress The impact of elevated and sustained Cortisol  Reduction of Cortisol by Bifidobacteria Cushing’s disease Cortisol and Depression Future prospect of improving cardiovascular health with Psychobiotics The impact Birth Method on asthma, allergies, antibiotics, obesity and stress response Antibiotics and Depression Early life Antibiotics use and Obesity Risk Impact of Anti- Depressants on gut microbiota Lithium and gut microbiota alteration Antidepressants and weight gain Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes ratio, weight gain and Antidepressants Bariactric surgery and alteration of the gut microbiota composition Faecal Matter Transplants and the risk of depression transfer Transferring the Blues Study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27491067 The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood, Food, and the New Science of the Gut-Brain Connection by Scott C. Anderson (Author), John F. Cryan (Author), Ted Dinan (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Psychobiotic-Revolution-Science-Gut-Brain-Connection/dp/142621846X The discovery of lactic bacteria as a treatment for depression in 1910 Opportunity for the development of food based mood enhancers (Prebiotics or Probiotics) Benefits of the Mediterranean diet for mental health Processed Foods, Trans fats and Mental Heath  Benefits of Aerobic Exercise Anti anxiety effect of Prebiotics- Fructose Oligosaccharides (FOS Inulin)  and Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)  Good Food and Mood Bifidogenic effects of Prebiotics What is the potential Road Map for Psychobiotic use in a clinical setting? Nutritional Psychiatry- Diet and Exercise Education of Health Care Professionals  Fibre intake and Mental Health  Is there any link between Stress and IBS? Anxiety + IBS link Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 and IBS https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28166427 “A good diet is the best way to deliver nutrients to the brain" Ted’s No 1 recommendation for mental health Ted’s Diet and Lifestyle habits       Brought to you by:   Nourishmeorganics- Gut Health Super Store- Shine from the Inside https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/   Shop Prebiotic Products here (10% off using code Ted):   FOS Inulin   https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/products/organic-fos-inulin-powder-200g   GOS   https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/products/bimuno-daily-prebiotic-30-x-3-65-sachets    Allele Microbiome- Gut Microbiome Testing   Shop Microbiome Stool testing (10% off Gut Explorer Pro using code: gutlove)    https://www.allele.com.au/collections/frontpage/products/gut-microbiome-analysis         Connect with Professor Ted Dinan:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/teddinan Website- http://apc.ucc.ie/ted_dinan/    Connect with Kriben Govender:  Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/kribengee/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/kribengovender/ Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/c/Nourishmeorganics?sub_confirmation=1 Gut Health Gurus Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nourishmeorganics/     Download links                 If you enjoyed this episode and would like to show your support:   1) Please subscribe on Itunes and leave a positive review     Instructions:   - Click this link  https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/gut-health-gurus-podcast/id1433882512?mt=2   - Click "View in Itunes" button on the left hand side - This will open Itunes app - Click "Subscribe" button - Click on "Ratings and Reviews" tab - Click on "Write a Review" button     2) Subscribe, like and leave a positive comment on Youtube   https://www.youtube.com/c/Nourishmeorganics?sub_confirmation=1   3) Share your favourite episode on Facebook, Instagram, and Stories 4) Let your friends and family know about this Podcast by email, text, messenger etc   5) Support us on Patreon for as little as $5 per month and get same day, early access to our latest podcasts (typically around 4 to 6 weeks earlier than the general public) https://www.patreon.com/nourishmeorganics   Thank you so much for your support. 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