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The article claims that we now have evidence that the gut influences the brain (rather than just correlation), but the evidence isn't exactly compelling. GABA
by cpncrunch 12y ago
The article claims that we now have evidence that the gut influences the brain (rather than just correlation), but the evidence isn't exactly compelling.
GABA doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier, so the fact that bacteria in the gut release GABA won't have any effect on the brain.
A caesarean will be a huge stressor, and cortisol in the mother is known to affect the brain of the child, so why do they think the bacteria was causal in making these changes when they didn't actually do any controlled tests for the bacteria?
Similarly for autism: we know the brain is different, so it seems more likely the brain changes are causing the changes in the gut bacteria rather than the other way around, as we know for certain that brain changes will affect the gut (stress), but there is no evidence that gut bacteria can make these kind of changes in the brain.
- return0 12y agoAlso how about the autism incidence gap between men and women. I agree with you that the evidence is pointing to the reverse of what is claimed.
- Sone7 12y agoThere is more evidence than was mentioned in the article. Mice fed Lactobacillus regulate stress better. Populations with gluten free diets have incredibly low schizophrenia rates, until introduced to western diets. Schizophrenia patients making progress in therapy on gluten free diets experience more issues when reintroduced to gluten.
- Lambdanaut 12y ago> GABA doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier, so the fact that bacteria in the gut release GABA won't have any effect on the brain. Yet tons of people take it as a supplement regardless. Maybe it's just placebo? I feel like we should hold out judgement on this. I wouldn't be surprised if GABA somehow affected us in other ways even if it doesn't get into the brain. But yes, as far as we currently know, it shouldn't affect our mental performance.
- cpncrunch 12y agoAny pill you take to improve your performance or health will have some sort of placebo effect. Whether it has any actual effect over and above placebo requires a double-blind RCT. As far as I'm aware, there is no evidence that it has any effect over placebo, and the science says it shouldn't. People take all sorts of dubious supplements...
- undersuit 12y agoWhat pills should I take to get the most positive placebo effects?
- wil421 12y ago>GABA doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier I have taken that stuff and while it may not have crossed the barrier it definitely made be feel really weird. So much so that my roommate and I both had to stop taking it after a week or so.