Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants • Hacker News Board

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#21

Post by SaintGhurka » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

Sample size of 1 here, but just hear me out.

Probiotics are a cheap and low-risk. If you have any general inflammation type issues that don't seem to have a cause, it might be worthwhile to just try probiotics.

My Dr. told me to try them for a digestive issue - and they sort of helped that.

But a handful of other things unexpectedly improved. Acid reflux went from really bad to barely noticeable, and my skin really cleared up. I had red, flaky skin on my face for 20 years and suddenly it's gone within 48 hours of starting probiotics.

Yeah... post hoc ergo propter hoc, but it's a cheap and harmless shot in the dark.

Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you're out $10.

Edited to say "low risk" instead of "risk free".

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#22

Post by UI_at_80x24 » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

mrfusion wrote: post #12

How to find the best probiotics?

I don't know much this topic, but if you are looking for supplements make sure they are refrigerated. Yogurt is probably the easiest/best way to ingest them though instead of specific pills.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#23

Post by Alex3917 » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:47 PM UTC

PaulHoule wrote: post #20

When I think of probiotics I think of this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJM_jC7j_4 because probiotics are the "ones that mother gives you [that] don't do anything at all" (Right up there with Vitamin D supplements. Everything good, like low blood pressure and your team winning the Superbowl seems to be associated with high vitamin D in the population and everything bad is associated with low vitamin D... But…

> But when you supplement Vitamin D seems to lower your blood pressure as much as it makes your team win the Superbowl

Because you need UVA to convert the vitamin D to nitric oxide, and if you're getting enough UVA to do that then you're also more likely to already be getting enough UVB to create sufficient vitamin D in the first place.[1] Not super complicated.

Taking vitamin D supplements is probably still better than not taking them if you're deficient, but if you understand the mechanism of action then it should be obvious as to why the science is always equivocal.

[1] Or, more precisely, vitamin D regulates nitric oxide synthesis.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#24

Post by ianstormtaylor » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:48 PM UTC

Anyone have recommendations for which probiotics are the best ones to buy?

I always get confused while looking at all the various options, and this seems like a good place to find someone who’s done a lot of research.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#25

Post by wutbrodo » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:50 PM UTC

PaulHoule wrote: post #20

When I think of probiotics I think of this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJM_jC7j_4 because probiotics are the "ones that mother gives you [that] don't do anything at all" (Right up there with Vitamin D supplements. Everything good, like low blood pressure and your team winning the Superbowl seems to be associated with high vitamin D in the population and everything bad is associated with low vitamin D... But…

You're commenting on a post about an RCT that does show probiotics having an effect...? And AIUI, there's plenty of other evidence of a) their efficacy for changing the gut biome and b) the gut biome's causal effect on a variety of health issues.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#26

Post by giancarlostoro » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:50 PM UTC

SaintGhurka wrote: post #21

Sample size of 1 here, but just hear me out. Probiotics are a cheap and low-risk. If you have any general inflammation type issues that don't seem to have a cause, it might be worthwhile to just try probiotics. My Dr. told me to try them for a digestive issue - and they sort of helped that. But a handful of other things unexpectedly improved. Acid reflux went from really bad to barely noticeable, and my skin really c…

> But a handful of other things unexpectedly improved. Acid reflux went from really bad to barely noticeable

What are you even buying if you don't mind me asking? I don't get acid reflux often, but I definitely want to prevent it happening so often, because it continues for days when I do get it. There's all sorts of things that say they have / are probiotics, including a few different sodas out there.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#27

Post by PKop » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:53 PM UTC

PaulHoule wrote: post #20

When I think of probiotics I think of this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJM_jC7j_4 because probiotics are the "ones that mother gives you [that] don't do anything at all" (Right up there with Vitamin D supplements. Everything good, like low blood pressure and your team winning the Superbowl seems to be associated with high vitamin D in the population and everything bad is associated with low vitamin D... But…

You need to get it from sunlight. Modern man has way too little sun exposure, and the meme of everyone being afraid of sun and using sunscreen obsessively exacerbates the problem.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#28

Post by klohto » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:54 PM UTC

SaintGhurka wrote: post #21

Sample size of 1 here, but just hear me out. Probiotics are a cheap and low-risk. If you have any general inflammation type issues that don't seem to have a cause, it might be worthwhile to just try probiotics. My Dr. told me to try them for a digestive issue - and they sort of helped that. But a handful of other things unexpectedly improved. Acid reflux went from really bad to barely noticeable, and my skin really c…

What was the bacteria you introduced to your system? I’m on the market for some.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#29

Post by wtk » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:54 PM UTC

ianstormtaylor wrote: post #24

Anyone have recommendations for which probiotics are the best ones to buy? I always get confused while looking at all the various options, and this seems like a good place to find someone who’s done a lot of research.

I think the market is flooded with supplements, while you can help your gut bacteria with natural products like kefir (kind of buttermilk), kombucha, kimchi like products. I happen to love all those mentioned.

Re: Probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants

#30

Post by goda90 » Fri, Jun 17, 2022, 1:54 PM UTC

jokoon wrote: post #11

The problem is that you have to take them often to colonize your gut, so it becomes a bit expensive, and it won't work on everyone, depending on their gut (since scientists know too little about the gut).

My hypothesis is that probiotics also need to be paired with the right diet. Bacteria needs to be fed, and needs to compete with the existing gut flora. If conditions aren't right, then they may never get a foothold.