Nourishing Minds: the Gut-Brain Axis
July 22, 2025There is a general belief that some of our (un)conscious feelings come from a different place than our brain, where all rational decision-making processes occur. This is a fascinating interaction between our gut, the bacteria that live in it, diet and our brain.
Mood and mental health
Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health disorders and cost the global economy one trillion US dollars each year. Emotions and how strongly one experiences them, can influence our food choice and foodintake. Therefore, research has suggested that the gut-brain axis might play a role in improving mental health. The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that connects the brain to various parts of the body. The second largest nervous system, called the enteric nervous system, is present in our gut. This enteric network provides information to the brain about hunger and satiety, but also feelings of stress and fear.
Microbiota-gut-brain-axis
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to the greatest density and numbers of microbes and bacteria, the so-called gut microbiota. The colon houses bacteria that ferment complex carbohydrates to short chain fatty acids, like butyrate, acetate and propionate, which support our health. The idea that these gut microbiota are associated with and may influence mood disorders started when researchers observed a high prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in people with gut disorders who often have a disbalanced microbiome. Therefore, microbiota seem to play an important role in the cross-talk between the gut and the brain and the gut-brain axis is now often also called the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
One way of restoring or retaining a healthy microbiome is via diet. Dietary fibers from plant sources cannot be digested in the small intestine and reach the colon intact. Specific types of dietary fibers can also be classified as prebiotics. Prebiotics are fermented by only a selected group of favorable bacteria, e.g. bifidobacteria, and must confer a health benefit. While fermenting prebiotics these bacteria grow and increase in number. Research has shown that prebiotic supplementation may reduce stress responsiveness, anxiety, and depressive-like behavior. To date, most studies have been descriptive or conducted in animals, the latter might not reflect anxiety- or depressive-like symptoms in humans. Therefore, more human studies are necessary, taking into account the differences in lifestyles (e.g. diet, exercise) and the complexity of the human body.
Chicory inulin and oligofructose
Inulin and oligofructose are dietary fibers which are naturally present in many vegetables and fruits such as onions, garlic and banana. Sensus extracts the fibers from one of its richest sources, the chicory root. Inulin and oligofructose are among the few ingredients, and the only plant-based ones, that are officially recognized as prebiotics. The few human studies that have been performed using inulin and/or oligofructose showed an improved Mental Health score, mood and episodic memory after ingestion. More human studies are necessary to further explore these associations.
Conclusion
The brain and the gut communicate with each other about swallowing, digestion, hunger, satiety, but also stress and mood. This cross-talk is called the (microbiota-)gut-brain axis. Several studies have shown that people experiencing stress, anxiety or depression have a more unfavorable gut microbiome. Chicory inulin and oligofructose have a positive effect on the gut microbiota, which might support mental health issues.