Distinct actions of the fermented beverage kefir on host behaviour, immunity and microbiome gut-brain modules in the mouse.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mounting evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiota in modulating brain physiology and behaviour, through bi-directional communication, along the gut-brain axis. As such, the gut microbiota represents a potential therapeutic target for influencing centrally mediated events and host behaviour. It is thus notable that the fermented milk beverage kefir has recently been shown to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. It is unclear whether kefirs have differential effects on microbiota-gut-brain axis and whether they can modulate host behaviour per se.

Methods

To address this, two distinct kefirs (Fr1 and UK4), or unfermented milk control, were administered to mice that underwent a battery of tests to characterise their behavioural phenotype. In

SUBMITTER: van de Wouw M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7236220 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature