Prebiotic enriched buttermilk as a dietary intervention to improve gut health and lower depression.

SHRUTI DWIVEDI; MINI SHETH

Volume : VII, Issue : XII, December - 2018

Prebiotic enriched buttermilk as a dietary intervention to improve gut health and lower depression.

Shruti Dwivedi, Mini Sheth

Abstract :

Bioactive peptides released during fermentation of milk and prebiotics carries significant implications for research on gut ain axis. The study was designed to determine the relationship between consumption of prebiotic enriched buttermilk based fermented beverage and depression. Subjects from The MS University of Baroda who were willing to participate were screened using Beck’s Depression Inventory. Gut microflora was determined with respect to Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria and E.coli in fecal sample. Cortisol levels were determined using ROCHE machine. Supplementing 200 ml fermented buttermilk enriched with prebiotic for a period of 30 days to 35 subjects falling in the category of mild to moderate depression showed significant decrease in mean depression scores and cortisol values by 46.5% and 4.2 % respectively. The fecal log count of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium showed a significant increase by 10.2% and 36 % respectively and a reduction by 2.7% in E.coli.