Synbiotic Supplementation Lowers Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Biomarkers in Women Who Experienced Domestic Violence

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition triggered by experiencing traumas, such as witnessing domestic violence. Chronic PTSD can increase the chances of developing bipolar disorder, psychosis, and even later in life, schizophrenia. The probiotics of the digestive system synthesize compounds that ultimately can be utilized by the nervous system. The intestinal microbiota and brain behavior, therefore, are connected to each other, probably by managing the amount of anti/proinflammatory cytokines released in the bloodstream. This study was performed to investigate the effect of synbiotic supplementation consumption on PTSD severity and stability in women who experienced domestic violence. A total of 140 women, divided into two study and control groups, were enrolled in this study and were given “synbiotic” supplementation or placebo for 10 weeks. All the subjects answered the PTSD questionnaire before and after consumption of synbiotic supplementation or placebo to determine the changes in the levels of their PTSD severity and their blood plasma or saliva sample levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as saliva melatonin biomarker levels, which were measured using ELISA. The results indicate a reduction in PTSD symptoms and severity after synbiotic supplementation consumption. The plasma anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased, while the saliva melatonin biomarker was increased when compared with the placebo control group. These results were confirmed by the PTSD questionnaire PCL test results, which indicate that synbiotic consumption positively affects the treatment of PTSD symptoms. Our results suggest that synbiotic consumption may ease stress and reduce the symptoms of anxiety in PTSD and perhaps in other similar psychological conditions.