Above everything else, Microbiome Center is a network organization with the goal to drastically shorten the learning cycle. That is, you, the doctors in our network, can prescribe evidence-based personalized microbiome treatments, and generate new knowledge at the same time. Analyzing anonymized data (e.g. fecal analysis results) with patient consent can provide new insights that can benefit future patients by enabling even better treatments. Our recent data analysis yielded such an insight, namely a correlation between Enterobacter spp. overgrowth and susceptibility to sad mood (i.e. depression or depressed mood).
In the complete client population the prevalence of depressed mood is about 18%. However, in clients who have high levels of potentially pathogenic Enterobacter species in their fecal analysis results, the prevalence of depressed mood is almost twice as high, namely 29%. This suggests that this potential pathogen is associated with depression.
A literature search reveals similar findings, although less explicit, showing that bipolar depression patients have higher levels of Enterobacter spp. compared to healthy controls (1). The same was found in patients with late-life depression (2). The researchers of the first study also describe an association between increased inflammatory activity and Enterobacter spp. overgrowth. Inflammation is known to be linked to depression (3). Together, our findings and the literature suggest that elevated Enterobacter spp. may cause inflammation and consequently lead to depression. That is a useful insight, because specific probiotic strains are known to inhibit potential pathogens such as Enterobacter spp. and lower inflammation, and thus may be useful in clients with depression.
This is just one example of how we generate insights while helping clients. Together, we learn from practice and continuously improve treatments. If you want to know more please let us know, or attend the webinars about data analysis (November 14th, in Dutch) or depression (December 14th, in Dutch). These webinars will be repeated in English early 2023.
References: