Exploring the human gut microbiota targets in relation to the use of contemporary antidepressants

Shih-Kai Kevin Lin; Hsi-Chung Chen; Chun-Hsin Chen; I-Ming Chen; Mong-Liang Lu; Cheng-Dien Hsu; Yi-Hang Chiu; Tsung-Yang Wang; Hui-Mei Chen; Yu-Chu Ella Chung; Po-Hsiu Kuo

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.016

Exploring the human gut microbiota targets in relation to the use of contemporary antidepressants

J Affect Disord. 2024 Jan 1:344:473-484. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.016. Epub 2023 Oct 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Center of Sleep Disorders, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁷ Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: phkuo@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 37820962
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.016

Abstract

Background: Antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are commonly prescribed for depression treatment. Animal studies have shown that antidepressants can influence gut microbiota composition and specific bacterial taxa. We aimed to investigate the association between antidepressant use and human gut microbiota composition and functional pathway.

Methods: We collected information on antidepressant use, demographic, food patterns, and clinical characteristics through questionnaires and medical records. The gut microbiota profiles of 271 depressive patients were carried out through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Patients were categorized based on different types of antidepressant use groups for gut microbiota comparisons. MaAsLin2 was performed to evaluate microbiota composition across groups. PICRUSt2 was used to predict microbiota functional pathways.

Results: Patients taking SSRIs or SNRIs had a lower microbiota diversity. We found seven taxa abundances (Turicibacter, Barnesiella, Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group, Romboutia, Akkermansia, Dialister, Romboutia and Fusicatenibacter) differed in patients with various types of antidepressants compared with those without antidepressant treatments (p < 0.05). Turicibacter inversely correlated with depression severity in SSRIs or SNRI users (r = -0.43, p < 0.05). Top identified pathways were related to compound fermentation and biosynthesis in microbiota function.

Conclusion: Antidepressant usage, especially SSRIs and SNRIs, associates with changes in gut microbiota composition and specific taxa. Given our study's preliminary cross-sectional nature, further research is warranted to comprehend the relationship between antidepressant use, treatment response, and gut microbiota, aiming to enhance therapeutic interventions in the future.

Keywords: Antidepressants; Depression; Gut microbiome; Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects
Cross-Sectional Studies
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Humans
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors*

Substances

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Antidepressive Agents