Brian Gut Axis Test
Gut Microbiota & Metabolomics Studies for Neurotransmitters
Gut-Brain Axis
- Bidirectional Communication: The gut-brain axis is a complex communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. Gut microbes produce various metabolites that can influence brain function and behaviours through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, immune system modulation, and the production of neurotransmitters.
- Neurodevelopment: In children, the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in brain development during critical periods. Dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut microbiota) can disrupt this process, potentially leading to neurodevelopmental disorders and influencing cognitive abilities and personality traits.
What these Neurotransmitters do in our body
1. Serotonin: Serotonin is often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter because it significantly influences mood, emotion, and anxiety. Adequate levels of serotonin contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness, while low levels are associated with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
- Serotonin also involved in cognitive functions including memory, learning, and decision-making. It affects how the brain processes information and responds to stimuli.
- Serotonin play a significant role in regulating sleeping pattern, social behaviours and Appetites, Digestions and Sexual functions
2.GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, primarily known for its inhibitory functions. It plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of neuronal activity.
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, primarily known for its inhibitory functions. It plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of neuronal activity.
3. Dopamine: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which is often referred to as the “Rewards & Pleasure” neurotransmitter because it is heavily involved in the brain’s reward system. It is released in response to pleasurable activities, such as eating, socializing, and engaging in hobbies, reinforcing behaviours that are enjoyable and beneficial for survival.
- Dopamine plays a key role in motivation and goal-directed behaviour. Higher levels of dopamine are associated with increased motivation to pursue rewards and achieve goals.
Test Results Finding
Here is the comparison of gut microbiota composition between healthy individuals and those with neurological disorders. The pie charts highlight differences, such as an increase in Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and a decrease in Bacteroidetes in individuals with neurological disorders compared to healthy individuals.
Top 5 %abundance of neurotransmitters producing bacteria in the healthy gut and mentally depressed person:
list of the top 5 gut bacterial species from the major phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria that are known to produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin, GABA, and dopamine, along with their estimated percentage abundances in healthy and mentally depressed individuals.
Key Observations:
- Healthy Individuals: Generally, show a higher abundance of beneficial neurotransmitter-producing bacteria, contributing to gut-brain axis health.
- Mentally Depressed Individuals: Tend to have a reduced abundance of these bacteria, which can negatively impact neurotransmitter production, potentially contributing to mood disorders.
Abundance of Neurotransmitters in Healthy Gut:
The abundance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and dopamine in a healthy gut is influenced by various factors, including diet, gut microbiota composition, and overall health. Here is a general overview of these neurotransmitters in the gut:
- Serotonin:
- Approximately 90-95% of the body’s total serotonin is found in the gut, primarily in the enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Serotonin is crucial for regulating gut motility, secretion, and blood flow.
- Its levels are highly influenced by the gut microbiota, especially by species such as Escherichia coli and Streptococcus.
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid):
- GABA is primarily known as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system but is also produced in the gut.
- Certain gut bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, are known to synthesize GABA.
- GABA in the gut is involved in modulating intestinal motility and influencing gut-brain communication.
- Dopamine:
- About 50% of the body’s dopamine is found in the gut, mainly produced by gut epithelial cells and gut microbiota.
- Dopamine plays a role in regulating gut motility and is linked to the gut’s response to dietary intake and microbial activity.
- Some gut bacteria, such as Bacillus and Serratia, are involved in dopamine production.
While exact percentages of these neurotransmitters can vary widely based on individual health and gut microbiome composition, these neurotransmitters’ presence in the gut highlights the importance of the gut-brain axis in overall health and well-being.
Quantifications of Neurotransmitters in Stool of healthy gut.
The exact quantification of neurotransmitters like serotonin, GABA, and dopamine in stool samples is complex due to variability in gut microbiota, individual differences, and sample handling. However, some studies provide general ranges for these neurotransmitters in stool, reflecting their production and presence in the gut:
Estimated Quantities of Neurotransmitters in 1 Gram of Stool from a Healthy Gut:
- Serotonin (5-HT):
- Quantity: Typically ranges from 50 to 200 ng/g of stool.
- Source: Primarily produced by enterochromaffin cells in the gut lining and influenced by microbial interactions.
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid):
- Quantity: Usually found in concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ng/g of stool.
- Source: Produced mainly by gut microbiota, including species like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
- Dopamine:
- Quantity: Ranges from 20 to 100 ng/g of stool.
- Source: Synthesized by both gut epithelial cells and specific bacteria such as Bacillus and Serratia.
Considerations:
- The variability in these quantities can be substantial due to factors like diet, gut transit time, microbial composition, and individual health status.
- These measurements often require advanced analytical techniques like liquid chromatography mass spectrophotometry (LCMS) coupled with mass spectrometry for accurate quantification.
Impact of Major Dysbiosis on Drug Efficacy: How Gut Microbiota Imbalance Alters Therapeutic Outcomes
Major dysbiosis, which refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiota, can significantly impact the efficacy of various types of medicines in the body. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in drug metabolism, influencing both pharmacokinetics (how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs) and pharmacodynamics (how drugs exert their effects on the body). Here’s how major dysbiosis can affect drug efficacy:
- Altered Drug Metabolism:
- Dysbiosis can change the expression and activity of gut microbial enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of drugs. This alteration can lead to either increased or decreased drug metabolism, affecting the drug’s bioavailability and therapeutic effect.
- For example, some gut bacteria can activate prodrugs (inactive compounds that become active in the body), and dysbiosis might impair this activation process, rendering the drug less effective.
- Impaired Drug Absorption:
- Gut microbiota influence the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Dysbiosis can damage this barrier, altering the absorption of orally administered drugs and nutrients. Reduced absorption can lead to sub-therapeutic drug levels, making treatments less effective.
- Increased Drug Toxicity:
- Dysbiosis may alter the metabolism of drugs in a way that produces harmful metabolites or increases the concentration of the active drug, leading to potential toxicity.
- For instance, drugs like irinotecan (used in cancer therapy) can be metabolized into toxic compounds by certain gut bacteria, which could worsen if dysbiosis is present.
- Impact on Drug Transporters and Receptors:
- Dysbiosis can modulate the expression of transporters and receptors in the gut, which play roles in drug uptake and response. Changes in these proteins can affect how well drugs are absorbed and how they exert their effects.
- Interaction with Immune System:
- The gut microbiota interacts closely with the immune system, and dysbiosis can lead to chronic inflammation or immune dysregulation. This altered immune state can affect the efficacy of drugs, particularly those that target the immune system, such as biologics and immunosuppressants.
- Impact on Personalized Medicine:
- Dysbiosis may affect how individuals respond to drugs that are typically tailored to their specific genetic or metabolic profiles, as gut microbiota contributes significantly to these profiles. Personalized treatments might become less predictable due to microbiota-driven variability.
- Influence on Drug Resistance:
- Gut microbiota can influence the development of drug resistance, especially in antibiotics. Dysbiosis can promote the growth of resistant bacteria, making antibiotic treatments less effective and contributing to the spread of resistant strains
How Novelgene can help to find out the exact conditions of neurotransmitters
Novelgene Has developed a robust protocol to identify even less abundance bacterial species. The neurotransmitter-producing bacteria are part of the gut-brain axis, influencing various aspects of mental health and behaviour. Their activity highlights the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and the central nervous system.
Why Choose Novelgene:
- Unique In-house Protocols: Novelgene has developed proprietary methodologies for gut microbiota analysis, starting from stool sample collection to final analysis.
- Careful Sample Collection: Extra care is taken during stool sample collection, with controlled temperature management and transportation in specially designed boxes.
- Temperature Control & Processing: Ambient temperature is maintained during transportation, and samples are immediately processed for DNA isolation, preserving natural microbial diversity.
- Optimized Procedures: The entire procedure, from DNA isolation to sequencing, has been optimized for speed, making it faster than other labs in India.
- Advanced Markers and Tools: Novelgene has developed specialized markers and tools to identify potential metabolites produced by the microbial community and analyze microbiota ratios, which may be linked to neurological disorders.
- Comprehensive Microbiota Reports: 2-3 week
- GUT-Microbiome Diversity Score
- Know your most abundant bacteria, Pathogenic bacteria, opportunistic bacteria, probiotic bacteria etc with their %abundance
- Microbiome-based metabolic indicators: Butyrate, Gas, inflammatory and non-inflammatory producers.
- Finding on the basis of DYSBIOSIS and Summary Reports.
- Phase I: GUT-REBOOT (Initially 3-4 weeks under the supervision of gastroenterologist and nutritionist)
- Phase 2: GUT-REBUILD (Next 3-4 weeks under the supervision of gastroenterologist and nutritionist)
- Phase 3: GUT-RETAIN (Next 4-6 weeks under the supervision of gastroenterologist and nutritionist)
Samples Requirement: STOOL SAMPLE ONLY (samples collection will be taken care by Novelgene Wellness Team only)
