Cited by 76Gut microbiota and healthEating Disorders and BehaviorsGastrointestinal motility and disorders

The microbiota, the gut and the brain in eating and alcohol use disorders: A ‘Ménage à Trois’?

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Temko, Jamie E., Bouhlal, Sofia, Farokhnia, Mehdi, Lee, Mary R., Cryan, John F., Leggio, Lorenzo·2017·Alcohol and Alcoholism

Abstract

AIMS: Accumulating evidence for the influence of the gut microbiota on the bidirectional communication along the gut-brain axis suggests a role of the gut microbiota in eating disorders (EDs) and alcohol and substance use disorders. The potential influence of altered gut microbiota (dysbiosis) on behaviors associated with such disorders may have implications for developing therapeutic interventions. METHODS: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the gut microbiota, EDs and alcohol and substance use disorders was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science databases with the objective being to examine the role of the gut microbiota in behavioral correlates of these disorders. Original papers focused on the gut microbiota and potential behavioral implications were deemed eligible for consideration. RESULTS: The resulting 12 publications were limited to gut microbiota studies related to EDs and alcohol and substance use disorders. Some studies suggest that dysbiosis and gut microbial byproducts may influence the pathophysiology of EDs via direct and indirect interference with peptide hormone signaling. Additionally, dysbiosis was shown to be correlated with alcohol use disorder-related symptoms, i.e. craving, depression and anxiety. Finally, a mouse study suggests that manipulations in the gut microbiota may affect cocaine-related behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Promising, albeit preliminary, findings suggest a potential role of the gut microbiota in behavioral correlates of EDs and alcohol and substance use disorders. SHORT SUMMARY: Preliminary evidence exists supporting the role of the gut microbiota in eating disorders and alcohol and substance use disorders, although additional investigation is needed to determine what is causative versus epiphenomenological.

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  • Temko et al. (2017) reported that alcohol dependence, other substance use disorders, and eating disorders are associated with changes in neurobiological reward-processing pathways, and that changes in gut microbiota may alter biological pathways by reducing systemic inflammation.

    “As demonstrated by Temko et al. (2017), alcohol dependence, other substance use disorders, and eating disorders are all associated with changes in neurobiological pathways in specific regions of the brain involved in reward processing, and changes in gut microbiota may alter biological pathways by reducing systemic inflammation [20].”

    From Research protocol of the efficacy of probiotics for the treatment of alcohol use disorder among adult males: A comparison with placebo and acceptance and commitment therapy in a randomized controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as [20]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2016) Eating Disorders, Vol. 2016 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss (13 April 2017, date last accessed). [Google Scholar]
  2. World Health Organization (2011) Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health. Geneva: WHO. [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Temko, J. E., Bouhlal, S., Farokhnia, M., Lee, M. R., Cryan, J. F., & Leggio, L.
Affiliations
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (US)
  • University College Cork (IE)
Corresponding author
Leggio, Lorenzo
Venue
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Published
2017-05-08
Volume
52
Issue
4
Pages
403-413
ISSN
  • 0735-0414 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3502
OpenAlex
W2612604436
Cited by
76
References
97
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 1
FWCI
0.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • Alcohol and Alcoholism (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (ZIA-AA000218)
  • Division of Intramural Clinical
  • Biological Research of the National Institute
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, eating disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorders, dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, peptide hormone signaling, alcohol craving, depression, anxiety, behavioral correlates
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Alcoholism, Animals, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Humans, Behavior, Addictive, Substance-Related Disorders, Dysbiosis

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