Growing literature but limited evidence: A systematic review regarding prebiotic and probiotic interventions for those with traumatic brain injury and/or posttraumatic stress disorder.

Lisa A Brenner, Kelly A Stearns-Yoder, Adam S Hoffberg, Molly E Penzenik, Amy J Starosta, Theresa D Hernández, Daniel A Hadidi, Christopher A Lowry

Journal: Brain, behavior, and immunity 2018;65():57-67

PMID: 28606462

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is highly prevalent among a wide range of populations, including civilians, military personnel, and Veterans. TBI sequelae may be further exacerbated by symptoms associated with frequently occurring comorbid psychiatric conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is particularly true among the population of military personnel from recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a history of mild TBI (mTBI) and PTSD. The need for efficacious treatments for TBI and comorbid PTSD is significant, and evidence-based interventions for these frequently co-occurring conditions are limited. Based on findings suggesting that inflammation may be an underlying mechanism of both conditions, anti-inflammatory/immunoregulatory agents, including probiotics, may represent a novel strategy to treat TBI and/or PTSD-related symptoms. The focus of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate existing research regarding prebiotic and probiotic interventions for the populations of individuals with a history of TBI and/or PTSD. Only 4 studies were identified (3 severe TBI, 1 PTSD, 0 co-occurring TBI and PTSD). Although findings suggested some promise, work in this area is nascent and results to date do not support some claims within the extensive coverage of probiotics in the popular press.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Address: Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, United States; Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States; Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, United States; Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States.; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, United States.; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, United States; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, United States; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, United States; Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, United States; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States; Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States.

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.06.003

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Brain Concussion, Brain Injuries, Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Comorbidity, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Military Personnel, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans