Marked shifts in gut microbial structure and neurotransmitter metabolism in fresh inmates revealed a close link between gut microbiota and mental health: a case-controlled study

• Yunfeng Duan ^[1] ; Xiaoli Wu ^[1] ; Yanan Yang ^[5] ; Liuqi Gu ^[2] ; Li Liu ^[6] ; Yunfeng Yang ^[3] ; Jizhong Zhou ^[3] ; Chongming Wu ^[4] ; Feng Jin ^[1]
  1. [1] Chinese Academy of Sciences

     Chinese Academy of Sciences

     China

     
  2. [2] Cornell University

     Cornell University

     City of Ithaca, Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] University of Oklahoma

     University of Oklahoma

     Estados Unidos

     
  4. [4] Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

     Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

     China

     
  5. [5] Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
  6. [6] Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

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• Localización: International journal of clinical and health psychology, ISSN 1697-2600, Vol. 22, Nº. 3, 2022, págs. 91-100
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Background/Objective The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in psychological health, but the mechanistic perspective between gut microbiome and mental health remains poorly understood Method The present case-controlled study recruited 30 unimprisoned subjects and 31 inmates that had been detained in jail for no more than a month. The mental health status, gut microbiota and blood NH3, H2S, 5-hydroxy trptamine and dopamine levels were measured.

    Results Compared with unimprisoned controls, the fresh inmates exhibited significantly higher scores on anxiety and depression. Both phylogenetic structure and functional genes of the gut microbiota markedly shifted in inmates. Inmates was more Bacteroides-dominated, while unimprisoned subjects were more Prevotella-dominated. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing genera were largely decreased in inmates and were negatively related to mental disorder scores, while Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were positive to anxiety and depression scores. Simultaneously, the inmates possessed reduced genes that participate in amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamin cofactors metabolism, but enriched genes that involved in the neurotransmitter-producing Shikimate pathway. Correlation analysis revealed that Anaerotruncus and Prevotella were negative to depression score, and Enterococcus was negative to anxiety score.

    Conclusions Our results revealed potential link between gut microbiota and mental health, leading further support to the microbiota–gut–brain axis theory.