Is It True That Probiotics Can Reduce Anxiety? This Is What Experts Say

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JAKARTA - Yoghurt is indeed beneficial for health. But does this food reduce anxiety? Researchers in the journal PLOS ONE say, although the probiotics found in yogurt and supplements can reduce anxiety in patient animals, recent studies have shown that they have no similar impact on humans.

"Probiotics do not significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety in humans," said lead author Daniel J. Reis of the University of Kansas.

However, these findings should not rule out the possibility of probiotics being a potentially beneficial therapy for anxiety and other cognitive problems in the future.

"We've seen a lot of stories that say probiotics are very helpful for anxiety, but I wouldn't recommend using them to treat anxiety at this stage," said Reis.

For study purposes, Reis and his colleagues reviewed data from 22 preclinical studies involving 743 animals and 14 clinical studies from 1,527 individuals.

"For anxiety, the number one thing is seeking professional care. That should be the first action. There are some great therapies that can help with a variety of anxiety disorders," Reis said as reported by Indian Express.