Professor Ted Dinan on The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood Food and the New Science of The Gut Brain Connection

Professor Ted Dinan on The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood Food and the New Science of The Gut Brain Connection

Author: Kriben Govender January 25, 2019 Duration: 54:16
Kriben Govender (Honours Degree in Food Science & Technology) and James Shadrach (Honours Degree in Psychology) interview the father of Psychobiotics, Professor Ted Dinan.  We discuss how the gut and brain is connected, and the future of probiotics, prebiotics and food as a treatment option for IBS, anxiety, depression, stress and mood management.
 
Bio:
Ted Dinan is Professor of Psychiatry at University College Cork. He was previously Chair of Clinical Neurosciences and Professor of Psychological Medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.  Prior to that, he was a Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.   He has worked in research laboratories on both sides of the Atlantic and has a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of London.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.  His main research interest is on the role of the gut microbiota in influencing brain function and development.  Within this context he has focused on depression and irritable bowel syndrome. He has made significant contributions to the literature on the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in situations of stress.  In 1995 was awarded the Melvin Ramsey Prize for this research into the biology of stress. His current research is funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board and the European Union through FP7.  He has published over 400 papers and numerous books on the pharmacology and neurobiology of affective disorders.
 
Research interests:  
The "Brain-Gut-Microbe Axis" research  addresses the communication between the brain and gut and how it can be influenced by the gastrointestinal microbiota. This is an area of significance in infancy, where important links between diet, microbes and cognition are established. The influence of the microbiota on obesity and metabolic syndrome are also increasingly recognised. A better understanding of the role of this axis in the stress response, and its links with other debilitating psychiatric conditions, will help provide new treatment and management strategies – these will represent opportunities for both the food ingredients business and the pharmaceutical industry. Within this context papers Prof. Dinan's group  have promoted the concept of Psychobiotics, probiotics that have a mental health benefit.
 
Professional activities:
Prof. Dinan runs a clinic for treatment refractory depression at Cork University Hospital.  The research focus at this clinic is on biomarkers of response and the development of new therapies.
 
Publications:
 
Topics discussed:
 
  • Brain Gut - Microbiome Axis
  • What are Psychobiotics?
  • Modulating the gut Microbiome to treat psychological disease and improve mental health
  • Species of Psychobiotic bacteria
  • Probiotic health claims 
  • European Food Safety Standard for claiming health benefits of probiotic 
  • Food industry issues on probiotic health claims
  • Convergence of Food and Pharma
  • Treatment options for Mental health issues
  • How the Gut and Brains are connected?
  • Bi- directional Vagus communication
  • Bacterial communication via the vagus nerve
  • Importance of short chain fatty acids via Fibre
  • Tryptophan metabolism 
  • Synthesis of Tryptophan by gut microbiota
  • Immune system cytokines and brain activity
  • Decline of Bifidobacteria with age
  • The effect of Bifidobacterium longum 1714 on tryptophan levels and mood
  • Mechanism of tryptophan and stress
  • The impact of elevated and sustained Cortisol 
  • Reduction of Cortisol by Bifidobacteria
  • Cushing's disease
  • Cortisol and Depression
  • Future prospect of improving cardiovascular health with Psychobiotics
  • The impact Birth Method on asthma, allergies, antibiotics, obesity and stress response
  • Antibiotics and Depression
  • Early life Antibiotics use and Obesity Risk
  • Impact of Anti- Depressants on gut microbiota
  • Lithium and gut microbiota alteration
  • Antidepressants and weight gain
  • Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes ratio, weight gain and Antidepressants
  • Bariactric surgery and alteration of the gut microbiota composition
  • Faecal Matter Transplants and the risk of depression transfer
  • Transferring the Blues Study
  • The discovery of lactic bacteria as a treatment for depression in 1910
  • Opportunity for the development of food based mood enhancers (Prebiotics or Probiotics)
  • Benefits of the Mediterranean diet for mental health
  • Processed Foods, Trans fats and Mental Heath 
  • Benefits of Aerobic Exercise
  • Anti anxiety effect of Prebiotics- Fructose Oligosaccharides (FOS Inulin)  and Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) 
  • Good Food and Mood
  • Bifidogenic effects of Prebiotics
  • What is the potential Road Map for Psychobiotic use in a clinical setting?
  • Nutritional Psychiatry- Diet and Exercise
  • Education of Health Care Professionals 
  • Fibre intake and Mental Health 
  • Is there any link between Stress and IBS?
  • Anxiety + IBS link
  • Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 and IBS
  • "A good diet is the best way to deliver nutrients to the brain"
  • Ted's No 1 recommendation for mental health
  • Ted's Diet and Lifestyle habits
 
   
Brought to you by:
 
Nourishmeorganics- Gut Health Super Store- Shine from the Inside
 
Shop Prebiotic Products here (10% off using code Ted):
 
FOS Inulin
 
 
GOS
 
https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/collections/all/products/prebiotic-gos-supplement-100g
  

Microbiome Stool Testing, Deuterium Testing and Nutritional Consulting

https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/collections/nutritionist-consultation

 
Connect with Professor Ted Dinan:
 
  
Connect with Kriben Govender: 
Gut Health Gurus Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nourishmeorganics/
 
 
Download links
 
Gut Health Gurus Itunes
 
Gut Health Gurus Spotify
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to show your support:
 
1) Please subscribe on Itunes and leave a positive review
 
 
Instructions:
 
- Click this link 
 
- Click "View in Itunes" button on the left hand side
- This will open Itunes app
- Click "Subscribe" button
- Click on "Ratings and Reviews" tab
- Click on "Write a Review" button
 
 
2) Subscribe, like and leave a positive comment on Youtube
 
 
3) Share your favourite episode on Facebook, Instagram, and Stories
4) Let your friends and family know about this Podcast by email, text, messenger etc
 
 
 
Thank you so much for your support. It means the world to us.

Kriben Govender's journey is a testament to how personal crisis can lead to profound discovery. After a period where his life unraveled through professional bullying, personal loss, and deep isolation, he found a lifeline not in abstract concepts, but in the very real science of the microbiome. As a Food Scientist and founder of Nourishme Organics, Kriben now channels that hard-won perspective into The Gut Health Gurus Podcast. Here, conversations move beyond dry dietary advice to explore the tangible connections between our digestive system and everything from mental resilience to physical fitness. Each episode feels like a candid discussion, unpacking how nurturing gut health can fundamentally alter one's wellbeing. You'll hear from a range of voices-scientists, practitioners, and people with lived experience-all grounded in Kriben's own understanding that true health often starts from within. This isn't about quick fixes; it's about building a sustainable, informed relationship with your body. Tune in for a podcast that blends evidence-based nutrition with the very human stories behind the science, offering a compassionate and practical guide to taking control of your health from the inside out.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 70

The Gut Health Gurus Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Dr Chadi Nabhan on Monsanto Trials :Glyphosate Exposed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:53
Dr Chadi Nabhan, MD, is an oncologist who has been involved in litigation cases with Monsanto. In this video, we explore glyphosate and his involvement in the Monsato Trials. Remember to Like, Share, and Subscribe for mo…
Martha Carlin on Developing Probiotics with AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:49
Join us on a fascinating journey into the world of microbiomes with Martha Carlin, a citizen scientist who turned a personal crisis into a groundbreaking exploration of Parkinson's disease. From the creation of The Bio C…
Uncover the Secret to a Super Gut with Dr. William Davis! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:12
In this episode, I'm with Dr. William Davis and we're going to uncover the secret to a super gut with his amazing L reuterii yogurt recipe! By following this yogurt recipe, you'll be able to improve your gut health and r…
Dr. Willl Bulsiewicz on How to Heal Your Gut to Improve Your Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:01
An insightful discussion with The Gut Health MD - Dr Will Bulsiewicz on his Gut Healing GROWTH Strategy, allergies and intolerances, immune health, fibre and much more. Bio: Dr Willl Bulsiewicz is the author of Fiber Fue…