Stomach complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome could result in depression, the study suggests. Scientists at Stanford University found short-term digestive irritation early in life could have massive implications for mental health later on.

The underlying science behind this matter is that gastrointestinal disorders might lead to change in the psychological levels of a person. It has been revealed that the amount of research that has been conducted in this regard is worthwhile. The stress levels of a person might be affected due to the gastric movements of the same.

The researchers actually suggested that gastric irritation during the first few days of life may reset the brain into a permanently depressed state

As not all stomach upsets lead to lifelong psychological problems the impact may depend on when it occurs during a person's development. It could also be related to their genetic makeup.

About one in five people experience persistent or recurring pain in the upper abdomen, suffering from conditions such as IBS. Researchers have long noted that these people are also more likely than their peers to be anxious or depressed.

Up until now it was assumed that stress hormones associated with a patient's altered mood were responsible for their digestive problems.

However, the researchers believed the opposite could be true noting that many patients date their gastrointestinal problems back to early childhood, before their psychological symptoms started. Therefore he suggests these digestive disturbances could cause mood disorders.

A lot of research has focused on understanding how the mind can influence the body, and this study showed how the reverse is true as well. The study was conducted on rats and it revealed that they got infected with serious gastric problems when they were 8-10 weeks old. These rats were more likely to be depressed and anxious than the others.

The fact is that the gut of the person is affected with stomach disorders and this leads to difference in the way one thinks and behaves as well. There is signaling across the gut to the brain that permanently alters its function.

The researchers are now planning to investigate exactly how that signaling is initiated and acts in the brain, and whether it might be possible to develop new ways to treat depression and anxiety in humans. In particular,, they would like to know whether the vagus nerve is involved, and confirm what changes may occur in the brain in response to this signal Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment-resistant depression; this research may help researchers better understand and optimize this new approach

Meanwhile, the most commom way to treat digestive problems is the use of a probiotic, such as Activia or one of the many other brands found in health food store. In addition, supervised therapeutic fasting has been found to be helpful in improving intestinal health.

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