Food, Mood, and the Microbiome: The Gut-brain Axis - Moving Beyond the Monoamine Neurotransmitter Hypothesis and Toward Understanding the Holobiome-View Presentation

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Video Summary

In a comprehensive session on functional medicine and the microbiome, Dr. Hines, alongside Dr. Landon Sorensen and Dr. Matt Rusling, explored the significant impact of our diet on gut health and in turn, its effects on mental health. Dr. Hines opened the discussion by highlighting the societal and medical challenges with today’s food systems, particularly how processed foods affect our microbiome—a vast community of microorganisms linked to our overall health.<br /><br />Dr. Rusling then delved deeper into the biochemical implications of the microbiome, focusing on the pathways of tryptophan metabolism. He explained how gut health influences the production of neurotransmitters, which are crucial to mental health, and emphasized that imbalances could lead to mood disorders or increase suicide risk. He noted that the gut microbiome modulates neuroactive compounds that affect brain functions such as anxiety and depression.<br /><br />Dr. Sorensen concluded by considering clinical applications, suggesting practical changes such as dietary adjustments which include increasing fiber and fermented food intake while avoiding ultra-processed foods and alcohol. He further discussed the potential use of medications like metformin and omega supplements as adjuncts to improve gut health, subsequently supporting mental wellness. The speakers collectively underscored that although the current understanding and application of microbiome science in psychiatry remain in early phases, it proposes substantial future advancements for mental health treatment. They called for more research to fine-tune these approaches, particularly identifying how specific diet or lifestyle changes can be effectively utilized to enhance the microbiome and overall wellness.

Keywords

functional medicine

microbiome

gut health

mental health

diet

processed foods

tryptophan metabolism

neurotransmitters

mood disorders

dietary adjustments

fiber

fermented foods

mental wellness