Gut microbiota, metabolism and psychopathology: A critical review and novel perspectives

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders are often associated with metabolic comorbidities. However, the mechanisms through which metabolic and psychiatric disorders are connected remain unclear. Pre-clinical studies in rodents indicate that the bidirectional signaling between the intestine and the brain, the so-called microbiome-gut-brain axis, plays an important role in the regulation of both metabolism and behavior. The gut microbiome produces a vast number of metabolites that may be transported into the host and play a part in homeostatic control of metabolism as well as brain function. In addition to short chain fatty acids, many of these metabolites have been identified in recent years. To what extent both microbiota and their products control human metabolism and behavior is a subject of intense investigation. In this review, we will discuss the most recent findings concerning alterations in the gut microbiota as a possible pathophysiological factor for the co-occurrence of metabolic comorbidities in psychiatric disorders.

Keywords:

• Gut-brain axis
• bile acid
• psychiatry
• metabolic syndrome
• fecal transplantation
• germ free
• metabolomics
• kynurenine
• network approach

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

R. N. Groen was supported by the Dutch Organisation for Scientic Research [NWO Talent Grant; 406.16.507].