Gut Microbiota Associated With Effectiveness And Responsiveness to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Improving Trait Anxiety
Zonghua Wang, Xiaoxiao Xu, Shuang Liu, Yu Xiao, Min Yang, Xiao-yan Zhao, Cancan Jin, Feng Hu, Shiming Yang, Bo Tang, Caiping Song, Tao Wang
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology May 10, 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.719829 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort with intervention Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Young adults with high trait anxiety and healthy controls matched for age and sex |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduced trait anxiety and depression, improved mindfulness and resilience, and increased gut microbiota similarity to healthy controls; high pre-treatment Subdoligranulum abundance predicted greater responsiveness. |
Abstract
Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions have been widely demonstrated to be effective in reducing stress, alleviating mood disorders, and improving quality of life; however, the underlying mechanisms remained to be fully understood. Along with the advanced research in the microbiota-gut-brain axis, this study aimed to explore the impact of gut microbiota on the effectiveness and responsiveness to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) among high trait anxiety populations.
Design: A standard MBCT was performed among 21 young adults with high trait anxiety. A total of 29 healthy controls were matched for age and sex. The differences in gut microbiota between the two groups were compared. The changes in fecal microbiota and psychological indicators were also investigated before and after the intervention.
Results: Compared with healthy controls, we found markedly decreased bacterial diversity and distinctive clusters among high trait anxiety populations, with significant overgrowth of bacteria such as Streptococcus, Blautia, and Romboutsia, and a decrease in genera such as Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus_3, and Lachnoclostridium. Moreover, MBCT attenuated trait anxiety and depression, improved mindfulness and resilience, and increased the similarity of gut microbiota to that of healthy controls. Notably, a high presence of intestinal Subdoligranulum pre-MBCT was associated with increased responsiveness to MBCT. Decreases in Subdoligranulum post-MBCT were indicative of ameliorated trait anxiety. The tryptophan metabolism pathways were significantly over-represented among high responders compared to low responders.
Conclusion: The significantly increased diversity post-MBCT added evidence to gut-brain communication and highlighted the utility of mycobiota-focused strategies for promoting the effectiveness and responsiveness of the MBCT to improve trait anxiety. Clinical Trial Registration chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1900028389.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Why mindfulness matters in musculoskeletal therapies: a narrative review Frontiers in Psychology October 17, 2025
- Rapid shift of gut microbiome and enrichment of beneficial microbes during arhatic yoga meditation retreat in a single-arm pilot study BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies February 13, 2025
- Alteration of faecal microbiota balance related to long-term deep meditation. General Psychiatry January 3, 2023
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and 7 more in the library