Volume 29, Issue 163, September 2025

The Gut-Brain Axis: Role of Gut Microbiota in Depression - Systematic Review

Blanka Serafin-Juszczak^1♦, Michał Wilk², Daniel Narożniak³, Karolina Kusek⁴, Katarzyna Ciepłucha⁵, Aleksandra Wądołowska⁶, Zuzanna Mogilany⁷, Barbara Przybył⁸, Jan Wojdal⁹, Maria Wydra¹⁰

¹University Clinical Hospital No. 2 of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, ul. Stefana Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland
²Central Clinical Hospital, of Medical University of Lodz; Pomorska 251, Łódź, Poland
³St. Raphael’s Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Czerwona Góra, Czerwona Góra 10, 26-060 Chęciny, Poland
⁴Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz; Pomorska 251, 92- 213 Łódź, Poland
⁵Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Krakow, Osiedle Złotej Jesieni 1, 31-820 Kraków, Poland
⁶University Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz, Kopcińskiego 22, 90-153 Łódź, Poland
⁷Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lodz, Północna 42, 91–425 Łódź: Lodz, Poland
⁸University Clinical Hospital No. 2 of the Medical University of Lodz; Stefana Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland
⁹Copernicus Memorial Hospital, Pabianicka 62, 93-513,Łódź, Poland
¹⁰Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Krakow; Osiedle Złotej Jesieni 1, 31-820 Kraków, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Blanka Serafin-Juszczak, University Clinical Hospital No. 2 of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, ul. Stefana Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland

ABSTRACT

The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a bidirectional biochemical communication system that connects the digestive tract and the central nervous system. Emerging studies show that the transmitters released by the gut microbiome can even influence brain development at birth, contributing to many disorders such as anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders, and others. With evidence showing the ability of probiotics and dietary interventions to restore the normal gut microbiota balance, their potential therapeutic use in some GBA-caused disorders emerges. This review synthesizes current knowledge and links between GBA dysbiosis and selected mental disorders, showing a potential for GBA-targeted, non-pharmaceutical interventions in their treatment and prevention. Understanding the gut-brain axis dysbiosis presents new ways for more efficient, targeted therapies for some of the mental disorders.

Keywords: gut-brain axis, microbiota, depression, major depressive disorder

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e175ms3720

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i163.e175ms3720

Published: 21 September 2025