A 2022 study by Meyer et al. (8) noted a connection between cognition and the presence of Akkermansia, Barnsiella, Lactinospiracaeae and Verrucomicrobia within the digestive tract. This study also indicated that butyrate plays a role. Butyrate is a metabolite of several beneficial bacteria. Animal studies have shown that butyrate protects against cognitive impairment, vascular dementia and metabolic risk factors that contribute to cognitive decline and dementia. As noted above, butyrate production has also been linked to improvements in major depressive disorder symptoms (1).

A review was conducted by Eastwood et al. (9) to assess the impact of probiotic use on cognition. The review found a positive effect of probiotics on cognition in 21 of 25 studies when the specific probiotic strain was administered as a therapeutic adjunct to people with conditions leading to impaired cognitive function.

Studies of major depressive disorder have been correlated with reduced Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria and symptom severity has been correlated to changes in Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteriodes. Gut microbiota that contain more butyrate producers have been correlated with improved quality of life (1).

A study in healthy women providing probiotic yogurt for four weeks showed an improvement in emotional responses as measured by brain scans (2). A subsequent study by Mohammadi et al. (3) investigated the impacts of probiotic yogurt and probiotic capsules over 6 weeks and found a significant improvement in depression-anxiety-stress scores in subjects taking the specific strains of probiotics contained in the yogurt or capsules. Other studies with probiotics have indicated improvements in depression scores, anxiety, postpartum depression and mood rating in an elderly population (4-7).

Other studies have indicated a benefit of probiotic supplementation in alleviating symptoms of stress. In particular, researchers have looked at stress in students as they prepared for exams, while also evaluating other health indicators such as flu and cold symptoms (1). In healthy people, there is an indication that probiotic supplementation may help to maintain memory function under conditions of acute stress.

The importance of our health and how fragile it is become a primary concern during the pandemic. Consumers are taking steps to maintain their health, making a concerted effort to exercise regularly and eat better. This creates an opportunity to engage with these consumers who have either recently made a conscious choice to engage in healthier practices or are contemplating starting soon.

Consumers also look to category adjacencies for performance inspiration. A recent global report from Mintel revealed 86% growth in dairy-based products with healthy aging claims since 2017 and high protein content being a featured attribute (2). The mind-body connection is a trend to watch in the future, with ingredients supporting both physical and mental performance. Ingredients like choline address this need by providing support for the brain and nervous system as they help regulate memory, mood, and muscle control (3). 

In any effort to create lasting behavior change, working to improve self-efficacy, or an individual’s confidence in their ability to make the behavioral change, is key. Educating on topics related to the behavior – in this case, improving one’s knowledge of nutrition and health – is one way to build confidence among consumers. Brands have an opportunity to create lasting behavioral changes by helping consumers through careful selection of products and using innovative messaging to describe their benefits. 

Paying attention to where our ingredients come from, and the forms of the ingredients we use is one way which brands can balance these concerns. For minerals, looking to product forms which are chelated to organic compounds such as amino acids may be more appealing to “natural focused” consumers as opposed to using traditional inorganic mineral salts.