Flavonoid-Rich Orange Juice Intake and Altered Gut Microbiome in Young Adults with Depressive Symptom: A Randomized Controlled Study

Main idea: There’s novel interventional evidence that alteration in the microbiome due to flavonoid treatment (in orange juice) is related to a potential improvement in depression in young adults.

Abstract

Depression is not just a general mental health problem but a serious medical illness that can worsen without treatment. The gut microbiome plays a major role in the two-way communication system between the intestines and brain. This study examined the effects of flavonoids on depression by observing the changes in the gut microbiome and depressive symptoms of young participants consuming flavonoid-rich orange juice. Most notably, the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae family increased after flavonoid-rich orange juice treatment compared to that after flavonoid-low orange juice treatment. The presence of unclassified Lach nospiridae was validated through a sensitive real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The researchers observed positive correlations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the Lchnospirsaceae family before and after flavOnoid orange juice Treatment.

Source MDPI