Your Stomach and Brain Are Connected

A new study provides more evidence that there is a deep connection between our gut and our brains.

一项新的研究提供了更多的证据，证明我们的肠道和大脑之间有着深刻的联系。

The findings suggest that probiotics -- so-called "good" bacteria that aid in digestion -- may also help to lessen symptoms of depression.

研究结果表明，益生菌——即帮助消化的所谓“好”细菌——也可能有助于减轻抑郁症状。

There are about 300 to 500 bacterial species that live in the human gut. Many help with digestion and keep the gastrointestinal system working right.

人类肠道中大约有300到500种细菌。许多有助于消化和保持胃肠系统正常工作。

Scientists say these probiotics play a part in neural activity that controls digestion. In addition, there is also new evidence that shows probiotics can also affect a person's mental state, or mood.

科学家说，这些益生菌在控制消化的神经活动中发挥了作用。此外，还有新的证据表明益生菌也能影响人的精神状态或情绪。

Premysl Bercik is a researcher at Ontario Canada's McMaster University. Bercik is interested in the connection between the gut and the brain through the millions of bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract.

Premysl Bercik 是 Ontario Canada's McMaster 大学的研究人员。Bercik对通过生活在胃肠道的数百万细菌连接肠道和大脑感兴趣。

Bercik notes that between 40 and 90 percent of people with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, also suffer from symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Bercik指出，40至90%的肠易激综合征或IBS患者也有焦虑和抑郁的症状。

Doctors do not yet know what causes IBS. It causes stomach pains and can interfere with the body's waste removal process. The difficulty and discomfort of the condition alone might cause depression.

医生还不知道是什么引起了IBS。它会引起胃痛，并且会干扰身体的排泄过程。仅仅是这种情况的困难和不适就可能导致抑郁。

However, research led by Bercik suggests that the presence or lack of gut bacteria may affect a person's mood.

然而，由Bercik领导的研究表明，肠道细菌的存在或缺乏可能会影响一个人的情绪。

"What we found was that the patients who were treated with this probiotic bacterium improved their gut's symptoms, but also surprisingly decreased their depression scores. That means their mood improved. And this was associated also with changes in the brain imaging."

“我们发现，接受这种益生菌治疗的患者改善了肠道症状，但也令人惊讶地降低了抑郁评分。这意味着他们的情绪得到了改善。这也与大脑成像的变化有关。”

The study

研究

What Bercik describes is a small, early study of 44 IBS patients who also had anxiety or depression.

BiCik所描述的是对44名患有焦虑症或抑郁症的IBS患者的早期研究。

Half of the patients received a daily probiotic. The other half received an inactive substance called a placebo. The patients were then followed for 10 weeks.

一半的病人每天服用益生菌。另一半接受一种叫做安慰剂的非活性物质。然后对患者进行10周的随访。

At the start of the study, the researchers scored the levels of depression and anxiety in the patients. Then the patients looked at a mix of happy and sad images. 

在研究开始时，研究人员对患者的抑郁和焦虑水平进行了评分。然后病人们看了一组喜忧参半的画面。

At the same time, imaging devices recorded the brain reactions to those images. It showed the researchers what parts of the brain were active in connection with the images.

同时，成像设备记录了大脑对这些图像的反应。它向研究人员展示了大脑中与图像相关的活跃部分。

At six weeks, 64 percent of patients taking the probiotic had a decrease in their depression scores. The depression scores also dropped in 32 percent of the patients taking placebos.

六周时，64%服用益生菌的患者抑郁评分下降。服用安慰剂的患者中32%的抑郁评分也下降了。

A second imaging study showed changes in multiple brain areas involved in mood control, in the patients who felt better.

第二项影像学研究显示，情绪控制中涉及的多个大脑区域在感觉良好的患者中发生了变化。

Bercik says larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.

伯奇克说，需要更大规模的研究来证实这一发现。

"However, I think that it shows a great promise. I mean new treatments, not only for patients with functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, but also it may offer some new treatments for patients with primary psychiatric disorders like depression or anxiety."

“然而，我认为这是一个伟大的承诺。我的意思是新的治疗方法，不仅适用于肠易激综合征等功能性肠病患者，而且还可以为患有抑郁症或焦虑等原发性精神疾病的患者提供新的治疗方法。"

The researchers published their findings in the journal Gastroenterology.

研究人员在胃肠病学杂志上发表了他们的发现。