Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 15;11(3):e043221. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043221.
Research has highlighted relationships between the micro-organisms that inhabit our gastrointestinal tract (oral and gut microbiota) with host mood and gastrointestinal functioning. Mental health disorders and functional gastrointestinal disorders co-occur at high rates, although the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. The Bugs and Brains Study aims to investigate complex relationships between anxiety/depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in two ways. First, its primary component will compare the gut and oral microbiota in females with anxiety/depression and/or IBS relative to controls, and investigate underlying physiological, endocrine and immune factors, as well as associations with diet and psychosocial factors. In an ancillary component, the study will also investigate gastrointestinal and mental health symptoms in a larger sample, and explore relationships with diet, exercise, oral health, substance use, medical history, early life adversity and psychosocial factors.
The Bugs and Brains Study aims to recruit 160 females to the primary component: (1) 40 controls; (2) 40 participants with a depressive/anxiety disorder, but no IBS; (3) 40 participants with IBS, but no depressive/anxiety disorder and (4) 40 participants with both depressive/anxiety disorder and IBS. Participation is completed within 1 month, and involves comprehensive questionnaires, anthropometrics, a diagnostic clinical interview, collection of two saliva samples, and stool, urine and hair samples. This study aims to use a systems biology approach to characterise oral and gut microbial composition function using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and nuclear MR spectroscopy. As part of the ancillary component, it will collect questionnaire data from 1000 participants aged 18-40 years, capturing mental health, gastrointestinal health, oral health, diet and psychosocial factors.
Approval was granted by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee (#1749221). All participants voluntarily provided informed consent. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.
研究强调了栖息在我们胃肠道（口腔和肠道微生物群）中的微生物与宿主情绪和胃肠道功能之间的关系。精神健康障碍和功能性胃肠疾病的发生率很高，但这些关联的机制仍不清楚。Bugs and Brains 研究旨在通过两种方式研究焦虑/抑郁与肠易激综合征（IBS）之间的复杂关系。首先，其主要部分将比较患有焦虑/抑郁和/或 IBS 的女性与对照组的肠道和口腔微生物群，并研究潜在的生理、内分泌和免疫因素，以及与饮食和心理社会因素的关联。在辅助部分，该研究还将在更大的样本中研究胃肠道和心理健康症状，并探索与饮食、运动、口腔健康、物质使用、病史、早期生活逆境和心理社会因素的关系。
Bugs and Brains 研究旨在招募 160 名女性参加主要部分：（1）40 名对照；（2）40 名患有抑郁/焦虑障碍但无 IBS 的参与者；（3）40 名患有 IBS 但无抑郁/焦虑障碍的参与者和（4）40 名患有抑郁/焦虑障碍和 IBS 的参与者。参与者在 1 个月内完成，包括全面的问卷调查、人体测量学、诊断临床访谈、收集两个唾液样本以及粪便、尿液和头发样本。本研究旨在使用系统生物学方法通过 16S rRNA 基因测序和核磁共振波谱法来描述口腔和肠道微生物组成和功能。作为辅助部分的一部分，它将从 1000 名年龄在 18-40 岁的参与者中收集问卷数据，捕捉心理健康、胃肠道健康、口腔健康、饮食和心理社会因素。
墨尔本大学人类研究伦理委员会（#1749221）批准了该研究。所有参与者均自愿提供知情同意。研究结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，并在科学会议上发表。
