Chapters authored
Prebiotics and the Modulation on the Microbiota-GALT-Brain Axis
It is well known that there exists a bi-directional communication system between the enteric nervous system and central nervous system. Recent research has attempted to understand the influence of intestinal bacteria on the brain and behavior. In this manner, it has been observed that pathogenic bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) can induce behavioral changes such as acute anxiety, depressive symptoms, cognitive deficits, and increased sensitivity to visceral pain. The modulation of LPS production through probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics can prevent these changes. In addition to the neuronal, endocrine, and metabolic pathways, it has been observed that the immune mechanism also exerts an influence on the gut-brain axis. The cells of the immune system can undergo phenotypic changes by the induction of certain bacterial species, which can have an important participation in the development of brain disorders. Although the main effect of prebiotics is through the stimulation of probiotic bacteria, in this chapter, we review the indirect therapeutic potential of prebiotics on the brain through the intestinal microbiota, the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), and other components of the intestinal lumen. Thus, the objective is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its effects on the gut-brain axis. Here, we will summarize the possible therapeutic effect of prebiotics on intestinal microbiota, the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), and brain.
Part of the book: Prebiotics and Probiotics