Can gut flora changes be new biomarkers for depression?

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is a serious mental health condition that involves increasing patients, medical care, economic burden and scientific problems. In these years, a lot of evidence is mounting that gut commensal microflora is a significant modulator in psychological disorders including anxiety and depression. Here we review recent findings about gut-brain-axis as well as their crosstalk and interaction. Gaining a better perception of the relationship between gut flora and the depression and other related diseases, this complex parameter could provide a novel insight into the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and treatments in major depressive disorder.