What blood values are the most important for assessing a problem with the axis?
By Jane Foster, PhD There is not a simple blood test to detect a problem with the gut-brain axis. Ongoing research in the field aims to identify biomarkers that will...
Read MoreWe know probiotics affect neurotransmitter balance. How, what is the mechanism, and are there one or a few strains that are particularly useful in autism?
By Jane Foster, PhD Microbiota, in general, influence neurotransmission both in the enteric nervous system that surrounds the GI tract and remotely in the brain. Microbes themselves are known to...
Read MoreHow much emphasis do you put on the form of the supplemented nutrient, as in the various forms of magnesium, or selenium, zinc, etc.?
By Leah Linder, ND The importance of choosing minerals that are in the most biologically active and absorbable forms can make substantial difference to your health or the health of...
Read MoreDo autism and OCD show similar gut-brain axis breakdown?
By Jane Foster, PhD Several studies have reported differences in bacterial diversity and differences in bacterial composition in individuals with autism. To date not comparable clinical studies have been conducted....
Read MoreDoes choline in the gut, which is metabolically processed to form the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, plays a vital role in the axis? If so, can any form of choline be taken orally, or does it have to be CDP Choline?
By Jane Foster, PhD Choline is an essential nutrient that is important to neurodevelopment and neurotransmission as well as liver function and general metabolism. Most choline metabolism occurs in the...
Read MoreDo you see a time when probiotics/prebiotics may be a first-line intervention for conventional psychiatry?
By Jane Foster, PhD As a scientist interested in microbe-host interactions and the impact of this system on brain development and mental health, I look forward to a time when...
Read MoreAre there any contraindications for using probiotics to support positive mood?
By Jane Foster, PhD For most people, probiotics use does not lead to negative side effects. In a few people, probiotic use may be associated with diarrhea and possibly headaches,...
Read MoreCan probiotics augment the effect of pharmaceuticals in the treatment of mood disorders?
By Jane Foster, PhD The greatest challenge in treating mood disorders is the time it takes to match an individual with a mood disorder to a treatment that works for...
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