Gut Relief Caused by Stress

I found this article on how probiotics (dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria) can relieve potential gut problems caused by long-term stress. A study was done on rats, in which the rats were put under water avoidance stress (the rats were placed on a small platform surrounded by water) or sham stress for one hour a day for 10 consecutive days. One group of rats was fed drinking water containing probiotics before and during the stress sessions. The other group of rats was exposed to brief but repeated water deprivation. This made the gut "leaky" and attracted the presence of harmful bacteria to the cells lining the gut wall. In this set of rats, bacteria were also detected in the lymph nodes that drain fluid coming from the intestine. Conversely, probiotic treatment minimized the changes in chemical signaling and prevented bacterial "stickiness" and movement to the lymph nodes. The authors say that probiotics literally compete for space with harmful bacteria and lessen inflammatory responses, and as such, offer a promising approach to the management of intestinal problems caused by stress.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=42175