Effects of colonic hydrogen on microglial activation induced during depression

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K02325
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08030:Family and consumer sciences, and culture and living-related
• Research Institution: Nayoro City University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Tatsuro 名寄市立大学, 保健福祉学部, 准教授 (90379389)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸水素 / うつ病 / 脳 / 炎症 / IL-6

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined whether colonic hydrogen, which is produced by ingestible carbohydrates, reduces brain inflammation caused by oxidative stress that occurs in animal models of depression and affects the social behavior and emotionality of the model animals. The results showed that colonic hydrogen had no effect in the analysis of emotionality conducted using the elevated plus maze test. However, an examination using susceptible mice extracted from the social interaction test showed that the social interaction scores of susceptible mice improved in correlation with large intestine hydrogen production, and plasma IL-6 concentration, an inflammatory cytokine, also showed a negative correlation with colonic hydrogen production. These results indicate that large intestine hydrogen contributes to the improvement of depressive symptoms.

Free Research Field

解剖学・発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年行われているうつ病に関する研究は、モデルマウスを用いて薬を投与することによって脳内の炎症抑制に関する研究やそれにと伴う行動学的変化に関する研究が主体である。しかし、本研究成果は、日常生活の行動に含まれる食事により得られる大腸水素が、IL-6の減少やうつ様行動の軽減に寄与していることか示されおり、今後のうつ病発症・予防の研究において１つの方向性を示すものと考える。このような研究の継続的な実施は、必ずうつ病の発症抑制、またうつ病患者のQOL向上に寄与できるものと考えられ、栄養学的側面から新しい神経科学の基盤を構築し、栄養学の発展に大きく貢献できると考える。