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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
Role of the Microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis in Alcohol Use Disorder: Potential Implication for Treatment
Sophie Leclercq1, Philippe de Timary2
1Laboratory of Nutritional Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
The gut microbiota is constituted by trillions of microorganisms colonizing the human intestine. Studies conducted in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have shown altered microbial composition related to bacteria, viruses, and fungi.This review describes the communication pathways between the gut and the brain, including the ones related to the bacterial metabolites, the inflammatory cytokines, and the vagus nerve. We described in more detail the gut-derived metabolites that have been shown to be implicated in AUD or that could potentially be involved in the development of AUD due to their immune and/or neuroactive properties, including tryptophan-derivatives, tyrosine-derivatives, short chain fatty acids.Finally, we discussed the potential beneficial effects of microbiome-based therapies for AUD such as probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotic, and phage therapy.
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