Our Global Head of Research & Development, Fabrizio Camponovo explains the exciting possibilities of probiotic supplementation to support cognitive wellbeing by tapping into the gut-brain axis. 

This year’s Vitafoods Europe 2022 (The World’s Nutraceutical Event) provided an excellent platform for SFI Health’s Fabrizio Camponovo, to explain the importance of probiotics.

When asked what he thought the most important emerging ingredient was in relation to cognitive-health, he emphasized the importance of the role that probiotics play in the gut-brain access.

So what is the importance of probiotics in the context of mental wellbeing?

Recent research has found the brain and the gut have a lively ongoing dialog through the gut–brain axis. Most people have had firsthand experience with the unpleasant ways  negative emotions and stress can perturb gut motility. The gut– brain axis is relevant not only to these temporary circumstances, but also to longer-lasting conditions*.

What role can Probiotics play?

Aside from making changes to your diet or lifestyle, probiotics could be a useful way to modify your microbiome and potentially help manage IBS symptoms. Probiotics are live and active organisms which can provide health benefits when the right researched strains are taken in the right doses. They contain specific species and strains of beneficial bacteria found in your GI tract. Probiotic supplements can also help to protect your gut by increasing the population of  beneficial microbes, which support a healthy microbiome.

Probiotic supplements aren’t the same as fermented or cultured foods made with live and active cultures, such as yoghurt, kefir, or sauerkraut. Whilst these foods are an important part of a balanced diet, their live microorganism counts aren’t comparable with the higher doses in most  probiotic supplements.

Good probiotic supplements contain researched strains, clinically tested at specific doses,  and must be safe and show a health benefit at the provided amount. They must also contain enough live microbes which must still be alive after passing into your GI tract, to provide you with benefits. The number of microbes are listed on a product label as colony-forming units (CFUs).#

Probiotics currently play a role in helping to manage health concerns such as IBS symptoms. In the future, they may also play a starring role in supporting cognitive or mental well-being. This  is an important topic and area of emerging research that SFI Health and experts like Fabrizio Camponovo are serious about sharing with the world. Talk to your healthcare provider to see where to start and how the right probiotic supplement might fit in.