2023-07-16 03:08:19
Title: Stress and Gut Health: Researchers Identify Mechanisms behind Stress-Related Intestinal Diseases
Publication Date: July 16, 2023
By Katharina Ditschke and Ralf Kölbel, SWR
It is widely known that stress can negatively impact digestion. However, researchers have made a breakthrough discovery, uncovering the specific mechanisms in the body that are responsible for stress-related intestinal diseases.
In Germany, over 320,000 individuals suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, with numbers continuing to rise. Symptoms of these diseases include severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. While some experience mild symptoms, others face life-threatening conditions.
A study conducted in 2020 demonstrated that chronic psychosocial stress weakens the immune system of the gut, leading to inflammation and an unhealthy gut environment.
Building upon previous knowledge, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in the USA have now decoded the precise mechanism by which stress affects the gut. This discovery may explain the limited success rate of certain therapies previously used.
For a long time, psychological factors were largely ignored when treating inflammatory bowel diseases. Typically, cortisone is administered to reduce acute inflammation, but when patients no longer respond to cortisone treatment, biological drugs are prescribed. Interestingly, researchers found that patients who experienced stressful life situations, such as separation or the loss of a loved one, had significantly stronger parameters of intestinal inflammation.
Taking note of this correlation, the team investigated how psychological status and stress factors impact intestinal diseases. With the help of animal experiments involving mice, researchers discovered that the brain sends signals to the adrenal glands after a stressful event or wave. The adrenal glands then release cortisone, which possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, initially suppressing the immune response. However, chronic stress leads to an increase in the inflammatory reaction.
The researchers initially assumed that glucocorticoids directly affected immune cells, but they were startled to find that an interface called glial cells transmits stress signals to the immune response. These glial cells play a crucial role in intestinal motility and are controlled by neurons located in the intestinal wall. The gut, unlike other organs, has its own nervous system.
Further investigations revealed that glial cells and neurons recognize and respond to stress molecules, impacting the gut’s immune response. If stress hormones settle in the gut over an extended period, glial cells produce pro-inflammatory molecules that activate immune cells, intensifying gut inflammation. Additionally, the gut’s neurons lose their ability to regulate muscle movement, resulting in food remaining in the gut longer and exacerbating intestinal diseases.
To help individuals with chronic bowel diseases, reducing stress is recommended as a preventative measure to halt the progression of inflammation. Researchers are also exploring therapeutic options involving glial cells and identifying drugs that could target pro-inflammatory molecules.
While this research unfolds, experts advise stress reduction techniques such as ensuring sufficient sleep and engaging in regular exercise, including 30-minute walks three times a week. Additionally, relaxation exercises like yoga, meditation, and autogenic training can prove beneficial in reducing stress levels.
As scientists continue to unravel the complexities of stress-related intestinal diseases, the emphasis on psychotherapeutic approaches combined with medical treatments may pave the way for more effective interventions and improved overall well-being for affected individuals.]
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