The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives in numerous ways, causing stress and anxiety for many of us. The uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, social isolation, and the constant barrage of negative news can have a detrimental effect on our mental health. Finding ways to manage stress and anxiety is essential for maintaining our overall well-being during these challenging times.

A recent clinically study showed that KeepCalm (a probiotic complex composed by L. reuteri – PBS072 and B. breve – BB077) had a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep and mood in healthy adults. In this double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled clinical study, participants were randomly assigned to receive one capsule a day containing the probiotics or the placebo product in a two-treatment period of 30 days with a washout period of 30 days. At the beginning and at the end of each treatment, the participants completed a battery of questions for two psychological questionnaires, the Profile of Mood State (POMS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

The study showed that the overall mood was ameliorated in the probiotics group compared to the placebo. The subscale POMS scores for tension and anger were significantly reduced after 30 days of treatment with the two probiotic strains. Similarly, L. reuteri PBS072 and B. breve BB077, positively affected the overall PSQI score. Moreover, participants receiving the probiotics reported significant improvements in sleep quality and sleep latency 30 days after treatment.

Discover more about the results of this study in the article by MicrobiomePost!