Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic strongly affected every aspect of the modern society, from health to socioeconomics, leading people to experience high levels of stress.
Methods: A double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled clinical study was performed to investigate the ability of a food supplement containing two probiotic strains, Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072 and Bifidobacterium breve BB077, in supporting 33 healthy adults, working at a university, in stress management. The efficacy of the tested strains in influencing the stress response, in terms of mood and sleep behavior, was assessed using the following validated questionnaires: Profile of Mood State (POMS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Results: Outcomes of the POMS and the PSQI demonstrated a significant reduction of the questionnaire's scores both versus baseline and placebo after 30 days of probiotic intake.
Conclusions: According to the results, the probiotic food supplement investigated showed a remarkable effect on stress management by improving the quality of sleep and the mood.
Keywords: COVID-19; Gut-brain axis; Mood; Probiotics; Sleep.
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