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Mental Health Symptom Reduction Using Digital Therapeutics Care Informed by Genomic SNPs and Gut Microbiome
Inti Pedroso1, Shreyas Vivek Kumbhare1, Bharat Joshi1
1Digbi Health, Mountain View, CA 94040, USA.
Journal of Personalized Medicine
|August 26, 2022
Summary
Genetic and gut microbiome factors significantly influence mental health improvements following weight loss interventions. Understanding these factors can personalize dietary strategies for better mental well-being.
Area of Science:
- Integrative biology
- Nutritional psychiatry
- Microbiome research
Background:
- Neuropsychiatric diseases and obesity are significant health burdens, influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and the gut microbiome.
- Dietary and weight-loss interventions show potential for improving mental health, but efficacy varies significantly between individuals.
- Understanding interindividual heterogeneity is crucial for optimizing these interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic and gut microbiome factors associated with individual differences in mental health improvement after a weight-loss intervention.
- To explore the relationship between genetic predispositions, gut microbial composition/function, and mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, insomnia).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 369 participants in a digital therapeutics program focusing on weight loss.
- Evaluation of 23 genetic scores, 178 gut microbial genera, and 42 bacterial pathways.
- Assessment of baseline mental health (anxiety, depression, sleep problems) and improvement after achieving at least 2% body weight loss.
Main Results:
- Participants achieved an average weight loss of 5.4%, with over 95% reporting improved mental health symptoms.
- Significant correlations were found between genetic scores and baseline anxiety/depression, and between gut microbial functions and baseline sleep problems.
- Genetic scores, gut microbial taxa, and functions were associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiome and genetic factors are stronger predictors of self-reported mental health status and improvement than demographic variables.
- Identified genetic and microbiome factors offer a basis for personalized dietary interventions to enhance mental health.
- Findings support the role of gut microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, neurotoxic metabolites) in depression.
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