121 | id == 121
121 | category_id == 16
121 | category_order == 13
121 | category_name == Gut Health
121 | category_color == #C47AC0
121 | slug == BDNF-IBS
121 | title == How Can Neurotrophins Affect Gut Inflammation? (BDNF)
121 | meta_description == IBS causes abdominal pain, bloating, and dysregulated bowel movements. How is it connected to a nerve growth gene? Find out here
121 | summary == <p><strong>IBS is a poorly understood condition that causes abdominal pain, bloating, and dysregulated bowel movements. How is it connected to a gene that stimulates nerve growth? Read on to find out.</strong></p>
121 | overall_score_text == IBS Score (based on BDNF)
121 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/BDNF--Gut-Inflammation-IBS.jpg
121 | author_id == 1
121 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
121 | author_title == BSc, BEd
121 | author_order == 36
121 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
121 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
121 | reviewer == None
121 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
121 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
121 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
121 | publish_date == 2020
121 | publish_date == 3
121 | publish_date == 19
121 | avg_rating == 5.0
121 | tags_id == 318
121 | tags_name == Abdominal Pain
121 | tags_id == 159
121 | tags_name == BDNF
121 | tags_id == 160
121 | tags_name == BDNF Gene
121 | tags_id == 194
121 | tags_name == Gut Health
121 | tags_id == 308
121 | tags_name == Gut Inflammation
121 | tags_id == 8
121 | tags_name == IBS
121 | tags_id == 319
121 | tags_name == Visceral Hypersensitivity
121 | permissions_favorite == False
121 | permissions_rate == False
121 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is BDNF?</span></h2> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/bdnf-genes-correct/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (also abbreviated to BDNF), a protein that stimulates the growth and development of neurons. BDNF is most often studied for its relationship with learning, memory, and neuroplasticity; however, it is also active outside of the brain, and it has more recently been implicated in gut disorders like IBS [</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-derived_neurotrophic_factor"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337018/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does BDNF Affect the Gut?</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The relationship between BDNF and IBS is likely not straightforward; the results from various studies have been contradictory.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On one hand, many studies have shown that increased BDNF was linked with increased sensitivity in the gut. Furthermore, in animal studies, blocking BDNF relieved symptoms of IBS [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337018/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4738267/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31976585"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejp.1534?af=R"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other, the only human genetic study on BDNF and IBS found a common SNP linked to both IBS and decreased BDNF [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056499/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12553913/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulates nerve growth and has been linked to IBS in humans and animals.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The BDNF Gene and IBS</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The only human genetic study to link the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene and IBS found that rs6265 was conditionally associated with IBS. Their results were unexpected in a couple of ways [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056499/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, they found that the &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele of rs6265 was the problematic allele. This was unexpected because people with the &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele are believed to have less BDNF than those with the &lsquo;CC&rsquo; genotype; as we mentioned previously, most research has found that increased BDNF was linked with gut sensitivity and IBS-like symptoms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056499/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12553913/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337018/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4738267/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31976585"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejp.1534?af=R"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Second, rs6265 wasn&rsquo;t linked with IBS in all people&mdash;only those with previous psychiatric history. That is, for anyone who has never experienced mental illness, rs6265 had no bearing on IBS or its symptoms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056499/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12553913/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A separate study found that decreased neuroplasticity (low BDNF) was also linked with IBS in a population of African Americans with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204408/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4398247/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researchers are looking for explanations for these discrepancies, but none has been satisfactory. BDNF is not currently a target for IBS therapies because we do not fully understand its relationship with the gut. However, research is ongoing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele of rs6265 has been linked to IBS, but only in people with a psychiatric history. This connection is very poorly understood.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your BDNF Results for IBS</span></h2> <p>*6215193561716039*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><strong>BDNF rs6265</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Linked to normal BDNF, not associated with IBS</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Linked to reduced BDNF and increased rates of IBS in people with a psychiatric history</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A third (33.3%) of all people on Earth have at least one copy of the &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Significantly more people of East Asian descent (73%) have at least one copy of &lsquo;T&rsquo;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele is very rare in people of African descent (2.1%)</span></li> </ul> <p>*9680412929470417*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Prevent Gut Inflammation</span></h2> <p>*4603154524310771*</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because it&rsquo;s unclear whether increasing BDNF is good or bad for people with the rs6265 &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele and IBS, we recommend general solutions for gut health rather than specifically trying to increase BDNF. However, many practices recommended for managing IBS also happen to increase BDNF, so these may be a good place to start for those with reduced BDNF genotypes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Remember to talk to your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet, lifestyle, or supplement regimen.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moderate </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (and improved physical fitness) is among the best remedies for gut inflammation and overall health. According to many studies, physical activity actually changes the composition of the gut flora, resulting in an increase of beneficial species. Multiple studies have also found that an exercise regimen improved IBS symptoms specifically [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5467063/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The key may be to ensure that physical exertion remains within your (or your intestines&rsquo;) comfort zone. Vigorous physical activity, such as extensive running, may stress the intestines, leading to so-called &ldquo;runners&rsquo; trots.&rdquo; However, moderate physical activity appears to improve transit time and help regulate bowel movements [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5467063/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fortunately, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is also one of the best ways to increase BDNF. In sedentary male college students, high-intensity exercise boosted BDNF. Likewise in 50 obese or overweight people, exercise and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> increased circulating BDNF [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21282661"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21722657"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2019/4537274/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress Reduction</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Psychological stress is widely believed to trigger or worsen IBS. In fact, some researchers refer to both &ldquo;irritable bowel&rdquo; and &ldquo;irritable brain&rdquo; as equal factors in the development of IBS. Furthermore, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-anxiety/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anxiety</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and frustration with gut symptoms can further worsen these same symptoms. As such, many experts recommend stress management strategies as part of a holistic strategy to manage and treat this condition [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4202343/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4692018/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28061975"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People who are under a lot of stress also produce less BDNF. Furthermore, chronic or acute stress and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> decrease BDNF in the rat hippocampus and prefrontal cortex [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16024125"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15341606/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9220467/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25584253"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meditation</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One specific stress reduction technique with evidence to support its use in IBS is </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In a study of 75 IBS patients, mindfulness meditation significantly reduced reported IBS symptoms. In two studies of a total of 232 patients, a type of relaxation training similarly reduced symptom severity, in some cases significantly better than conventional therapies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502251/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14572570"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3313684"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, in a study of 38 people, participating in a 3-month </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">yoga</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and meditation retreat significantly increased circulating BDNF in the blood [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483482/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Exercise and stress reduction have been found to reduce IBS and increase BDNF in clinical settings. Meditation may be a helpful stress reduction technique for this purpose.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probiotics</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most likely causes of IBS is dysregulation of the gut flora. In fact, individuals with IBS often appear to have decreased diversity and numbers of beneficial </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-your-gut-microbiota-can-make-you-fat-or-thin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">microbiota</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and protective strains such as </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-12-scientific-health-benefits-of-l-reuteri/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. reuteri</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039952/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/probiotics-good-bacteria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probiotic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplements are therefore promising strategies for managing IBS. Multiple probiotic species have produced promising clinical results, including:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bifidobacterium infantis</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15765388"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bifidobacterium lactis</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27782892"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacillus coagulans</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4769834/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Brewer&rsquo;s yeast) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236513/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fermented foods are a great way to increase your intake of diverse probiotic bacteria without the use of supplements. Consuming fermented milk products (which include buttermilk, cheese, yogurt, </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/kefir/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">kefir</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, sour cream, and more) significantly improved symptoms of IBS in multiple clinical trials [</span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03818.x"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03362.x"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another fermented food with promise for IBS is sauerkraut (a type of fermented cabbage) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30256365"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723656/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthy gut flora also produce </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-butyrate-derivatives-sodium-butyrate-phenylbutyrate-trybutyrine-butyric-acid-butyrate-prodrugs-butyrate-producing-bacteria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">butyrate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a compound that is absorbed by the colon. Butyrate may help increase BDNF production, though this relationship has only been directly observed in rats [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726719/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fiber Supplements</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another way to help improve the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-your-gut-microbiota-can-make-you-fat-or-thin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gut microbiota</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is through the use of fiber supplements. Resistant starches and other fibers that feed healthy </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/gut-bacteria-microbiome/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gut bacteria</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> have been found to improve IBS in multiple clinical studies; furthermore, these gut bacteria produce butyrate, which may increase BDNF [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583392/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6529696/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12184518"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15986863"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726719/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of psyllium and other strategies in IBS found that patients taking psyllium were more likely to report symptom improvement than those taking a placebo. Furthermore, the number of adverse events associated with </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/psyllium-husk/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">psyllium husk</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was determined to be insignificant [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583392/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a galactomannan polysaccharide, guar gum is fermented for energy by healthy gut flora. As such, guar gum may promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, thereby suppressing IBS [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6529696/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12184518"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15986863"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eating a diet rich in wheat bran (30 g per day) was found to decrease abdominal discomfort and improve bowel habits in 188 IBS patients. However, the wheat bran diet was not as effective as guar gum, and fewer patients reported satisfaction with wheat bran than with guar gum [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12184518"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased butyrate in the colon has been found to improve IBS symptoms and increase BDNF expression. </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/probiotics-good-bacteria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probiotics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and fiber supplements are two possible ways to increase butyrate production by beneficial gut bacteria.</span></span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Berberine</span></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/berberine-19-health-benefits-of-berberine-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Berberine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a compound found in several different plants, including Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), and Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis). It has a 3000-year history of use in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6111450/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one study of 196 patients with IBS-D (diarrhea predominant), those who received berberine hydrochloride reported less diarrhea, abdominal pain, and urgent defecation than those who took the placebo. Furthermore, the patients&rsquo; quality of life appeared to improve, based on surveys intended to measure anxiety and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-depression/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">depression</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26400188"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We currently don&rsquo;t know whether berberine has any effect on BDNF in humans. However, in mouse and rat studies, berberine has been found to up-regulate BDNF throughout the nervous system and particularly in the hippocampus region of the brain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26773864"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.phcog.com/article.asp?issn=0973-1296;year=2018;volume=14;issue=58;spage=501;epage=506;aulast=Deng"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6636227/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Berberine improved IBS-D symptoms in one clinical trial, but its effect on BDNF in humans has not been studied.</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin</span></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/curcumin-cures-top-15-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a polyphenol found in turmeric, is one of the most popular natural anti-inflammatory supplements on the market. In multiple small clinical studies, curcumin reduced the symptoms of IBS; however, placebo-controlled trials are lacking [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15673996"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27308645"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is currently no clinical research on the effect of curcumin on human BDNF. In cell studies, however, direct contact with curcumin increased BDNF expression. Curcumin has low bioavailability, but once it is in the bloodstream it can cross the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/blood-brain-barrier-causes-tests-leaky-brain/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blood brain barrier</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, making it a target for future development as a therapeutic agent [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19879308"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6424351/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drugs</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a well-established link between psychological stress and IBS, and when appropriate, doctors may prescribe antidepressants to patients with both IBS and mental illness. Certain antidepressants have also been observed to gradually increase BDNF expression over time. This observation further reinforces the potential role of BDNF in IBS [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773590/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529302/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201761"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have both persistent IBS and mental illness (depression or anxiety, in particular), your doctor may consider prescribing antidepressants. Do not under any circumstances take these drugs on your own, without a doctor&rsquo;s prescription.</span></p>
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121 | content_learn_more_9680412929470417_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your BDNF gene could be associated with increased rates of IBS if you also have a psychiatric history. If you do not have mental illness, your genotype may have no effect on your gut. Exercise, stress reduction, and certain supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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