Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42524177›Full record

ReviewHealth promotion perspectives2026

Psychobiotic Effects of Postbiotics in Depression, Psychosis and Mania.

Aziz Homayouni-Rad, Jalil Houshyar, Hossein Alikhah, Saba Kamalledin Moghadam, Zohreh Osouli, Ali Asgharzadeh, Vahideh Sarabi-Aghdam, Alireza Asghari

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Health promotion perspectives, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Aziz Homayouni-RadStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6766-0108
Jalil HoushyarEndocrine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Hossein AlikhahEmergency Medicine Specialist, Assistant Professor, Maragheh University of Medical sciences, Maragheh, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2224-4319
Saba Kamalledin MoghadamDepartment of Food Science and Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4858-5469
Zohreh OsouliMental Health Unit, Health Vice Chancellor, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran.
Ali AsgharzadehDepartment of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Vahideh Sarabi-AghdamDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Alireza AsghariCanadian College of Integrative Medicine, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The gut microbiota significantly influences mental health through the gut-brain axis, modulating mood, cognition, and emotional regulation. While probiotics and prebiotics have been widely studied for their psychobiotic effects, postbiotics-metabolic byproducts of probiotics-represent an underexplored area with potential therapeutic applications. Understanding the role of postbiotics in mental health disorders, such as depression, psychosis, and mania, could lead to novel treatment strategies. This review examines the psychobiotic potential of postbiotics and their mechanisms of action. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate the effects of postbiotics on mental health conditions. We searched PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for English-language articles published between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2025, using keywords such as "postbiotic," "paraprobiotic," "depression," "anxiety," and "psychosis." A manual search supplemented the electronic search to ensure comprehensive coverage. Studies focusing on postbiotic effects on mood regulation, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter modulation were included. Results: Postbiotics demonstrate promising psychobiotic effects in depression, psychosis, and mania. They modulate neurotransmitter levels, including serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and reduce neuroinflammation, contributing to improved mood and cognitive function. Additionally, postbiotics influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, enhancing stress response and emotional regulation. These findings suggest that postbiotics may serve as effective therapeutic agents for mental health disorders. Conclusion: Postbiotics offer significant potential as novel interventions for mental health conditions, with mechanisms involving neurotransmitter modulation and neuroinflammation reduction. Further empirical research is needed to elucidate their clinical applications and optimize therapeutic protocols. This review highlights the importance of postbiotics in advancing innovative strategies to improve mental health outcomes and well-being.

Indexed as

Anxiety disordersBipolar disorderDepressive disorderGastrointestinal microbiomeMood disordersProbiotics

Identifiers

PMID42524177
PMCPMC13408624

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.