PROVIT: Supplementary Probiotic Treatment and Vitamin B7 in Depression-A Randomized Controlled Trial

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#adult #biodiversity #biotin #cohort-studies #depression

PROVIT: Supplementary Probiotic Treatment and Vitamin B7 in Depression-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Reininghaus et al., 2020 | Nutrients | Rct

Citation

Reininghaus Eva Z, Platzer Martina, ... Dalkner Nina. PROVIT: Supplementary Probiotic Treatment and Vitamin B7 in Depression-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2020-Nov-08;12(11). doi:10.3390/nu12113422

Abstract

Gut microbiota are suspected to affect brain functions and behavior as well as lowering inflammation status. Therefore, an effect on depression has already been suggested by recent research. The aim of this randomized double-blind controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of probiotic treatment in depressed individuals. Within inpatient care, 82 currently depressed individuals were randomly assigned to either receive a multistrain probiotic plus biotin treatment or biotin plus placebo for 28 days. Clinical symptoms as well as gut microbiome were analyzed at the begin of the study, after one and after four weeks. After 16S rRNA analysis, microbiome samples were bioinformatically explored using QIIME, SPSS, R and Piphillin. Both groups improved significantly regarding psychiatric symptoms. Ruminococcus gauvreauii and Coprococcus 3 were more abundant and β-diversity was higher in the probiotics group after 28 days. KEGG-analysis showed elevated inflammation-regulatory and metabolic pathways in the intervention group. The elevated abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria after probiotic treatment allows speculations on the functionality of probiotic treatment in depressed individuals. Furthermore, the finding of upregulated vitamin B6 and B7 synthesis underlines the connection between the quality of diet, gut microbiota and mental health through the regulation of metabolic functions, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. Concluding, four-week probiotic plus biotin supplementation, in inpatient individuals with a major depressive disorder diagnosis, showed an overall beneficial effect of clinical treatment. However, probiotic intervention compared to placebo only differed in microbial diversity profile, not in clinical outcome measures.

Key Findings

However, probiotic intervention compared to placebo only differed in microbial diversity profile, not in clinical outcome measures.

Outcomes Measured

  • depression
  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population a major depressive disorder
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition depression

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Biodiversity
  • Biotin
  • Cohort Studies
  • Depression
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Haptoglobins
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Placebos
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Probiotics
  • Protein Precursors

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: probiotics-mood

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09