Gut microbiota and depressive symptoms in adolescence -effect of perinatal factors-

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15566
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2017-2018); Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science (2016)
• Principal Investigator: ANDO Shuntaro 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (20616784)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 抑うつ / 腸内細菌叢 / 思春期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a visiting survey on the general adolescent child cohort. Children had their stool collected at home, then we collected them at the survey site. The analyzer company measured the bacterial flora of the fecal samples. The primary caregiver was asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire (Child Behavior Checklist) to evaluate depressive symptoms in adolescent children.
As a result, the gut microbiota of 314 adolescent children could be identified. There was no significant relationship between the experience of caesarean section and the gut microbiota of adolescent children. In addition, breastfeeding duration did not show a significant relationship with depressive symptoms. The high proportion of specific intestinal flora was associated with the strength of depressive symptoms in adolescent children. This relationship was also significant after adjusting for gender and age.

Free Research Field

精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、一般思春期児童を対象に腸内細菌叢と抑うつ症状の関係を検討した初めての研究である。その結果、思春期における特定の腸内細菌叢の比率と抑うつ症状が関係することが示唆された。本研究成果から、思春期における抑うつ症状の発生メカニズム解明が進むことが期待される。また、今後は因果関係の解明に迫る銃弾研究も求められる。