Era of psychobiotics: Gut health science evolves with targeted probiotics for mental well-being

Gut health is increasingly synonymous with overall well-being, giving rise to targeted innovations in the mental health field stemming from the digestive tract. Psychobiotics are an emerging class of probiotics bioengineered to stimulate focus, memory, relaxation, and other areas of cognitive performance. New launches in the field tap into a growing consumer base that is highly conscious of the science behind the gut-brain axis.

Nutrition Insight speaks to leading experts in the field, from Novonesis, AB-Biotics, Gnosis by Lesaffre, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, Tate & Lyle, and ADM.

Kirsten Vaever Jokumsen, Ph.D., commercial industry manager at Novonesis, highlights.

Clepius, the company’s latest solution featuring the clinically proven L. plantarum Lpla33 strain. Backed by research published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, the Clepius probiotic is authorized by Health Canada for the functional claim: “Helps alleviate perceived stress and improve gut discomfort-related quality of life in adults.”

In the context of the gut-brain axis, Novonesis highlights that people living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently report feeling sad, embarrassed, and self-conscious, which impacts their quality of life and could limit participation in social activities.

Jokumsen notes that the company is investing heavily in formulation development targeting convenience, bringing its science into formats like gummies, oil drops, lozenges, and shaped tablets. “These formats not only deliver proven probiotic strains but also elevate the experience with great taste and convenience — making gut health something people look forward to.”

Novonesis recently partnered with another Denmark-based industry leader, Novo Nordisk, to further investigate the link between microbiome balance and metabolic health. The companies are exploring how pre- and probiotic synbiotic food supplements influence factors like cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Bottom-up biotic development

On the topic of trending biotics for cognitive performance, Miquel Bonachera, co-founder at AB-Biotics, tells us: “In particular, psychobiotics, a class of probiotics that deliver benefits via the gut-brain axis, are gaining traction as consumers and healthcare professionals look for natural solutions to support cognitive and mental well-being.”

AB-Biotics is exploring how Mindbiome Plus could support neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD.AB-Biotics’ latest innovation is Mindbiome Plus, a psychobiotic blend designed to modulate the gut-brain axis and enhance mental functions like concentration and memory.

“The formulation contains Levilactobacillus brevis KABP 052 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP 023, strains that were selected for their ability to promote the production of several neuroactive substances, including GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid),” explains Bonachera.

AB-Biotics is exploring how Mindbiome Plus could support neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which are often associated with GABA imbalances.

He adds that early clinical results from a randomized clinical trial were “extremely promising,” suggesting that Mindbiome Plus may help reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity in younger children with ASD and/or ADHD.

Bonachera notes that while traditional probiotic development has followed a “top-down” approach, where the aim is to replenish the gut microbiome generally, AB-Biotics “flips this on its head” through a “bottom-up” perspective to biotic development.

The new research roadmap begins with identifying unmet clinical needs, followed by pinpointing biological pathways toward these bodily functions, and screening strains that act on those mechanisms.

“For solutions targeting the gut-brain axis, like our Mindbiome and Mindbiome Plus ingredients, this means focusing on strains that influence neurotransmitters like GABA, serotonin, and dopamine,” he explains.

“This precision approach is the key to the success we are seeing with these strains in clinical trial results, for example, with Mindbiome Plus in children with ASD and/or ADHD. Another clinical trial with Mindbiome, our psychobiotic containing Lactobacillus plantarum DR7, has been shown in clinical testing to improve the stress response and reduce stress and anxiety scores in healthy adults.”

Enjoyable product formats are essential

Dysbiosis tends to contribute to stress, nervousness, and anxiety, which are signals of a disrupted gut-brain balance, highlights Emilie Puppinck, senior product manager, Biotics, at Gnosis by Lesaffre.

“A disrupted gut-brain balance can have negative impacts on numerous areas of health, notably digestive function,” she notes. “Probiotics can play a key role, particularly our yeast-based probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 (ibSium).”

As fuel for gut bacteria, prebiotics are trending in on-pack food and beverage claims.Gnosis by Lesaffre’s probiotic yeast strain S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 has been clinically proven to manage abdominal pain and modulate microbiome composition.

“These effects positively influence mental well-being by enhancing quality of life, as shown in a clinical study where participants supplementing with ibSium reported improved quality of life parameters — lower food avoidance, better body image, and less interference with daily activities,” details Puppinck.

Unique formats for probiotic strain delivery are key, and consumers find products enhanced with probiotics very appealing, she highlights. “Here, imagine stick packs for yeast-based probiotics and gummies (for sporulated bacteria). Stick packs can be aimed at supporting the link between digestive health and mental health with other proven ingredients combined with ibSium.”

Prebiotics in focus

As fuel for gut bacteria, prebiotics are trending in on-pack food and beverage claims. “Although prebiotics like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) may not be new, the ways they are being unleashed to target the gut-brain axis certainly are,” says Sophie Zillinger Molenaar, global marketing lead at FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

“Advances such as our novel Biotis GOS-OP High-Purity, with over 90% GOS content, mean that lower effective doses — as little as two gram — can now deliver proven benefits,” she continues.

“This breakthrough makes it possible to formulate smaller, more convenient applications, empowering brands to innovate with formats like gummies. Today, formulators have the science — and the flexibility — to reimagine ‘brain food’ for today’s mental well-being-first consumer, from novel delivery formats to claims that speak directly to stress and mood.”

Zillinger Molenaar adds that evolving science elevates the capacity to create even more tailored solutions for consumers. “Take elite athletes, for example — training can be tough on the mind as well as the body, including digestion, which impacts performance.”

“Our Biotis Fermentis, a fermented blend of whey protein, Biotis GOS, and probiotics, not only supports gut and muscle health, but studies have also shown that it boosts energy and physical well-being, so athletes can perform at their best,” she highlights.

This year, ADM introduced a “game-changing” postbiotic solution, Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305, which may support emotional well-being, reduced stress, and better sleep.Noting the global shortfall in fiber intakes, Dr. Clare Leonard, VP of Nutrition & Health Science at Tate & Lyle, believes consumer-relevant benefits like stress management will help motivate increased intake from fiber-fortified or fiber-rich foods. 

“We are partnering in research to investigate how nutrition can help people with effective anxiety and stress management,” she shares. “A recent human pilot study has shown that Genu Pectin [derived from citrus] may contribute to reducing anxiety.”

Spotlight on postbiotics

Next to probiotics and prebiotics, postbiotics are gaining traction for broad-based functionalities. As Vaughn DuBow, senior director, Product Portfolio Marketing, Health & Wellness at ADM, puts it: “We believe postbiotics are critical to this next frontier due to their formulation resiliency and ongoing clinical research demonstrating incredible results similar to their probiotic counterparts.”

This year, ADM introduced a “game-changing” postbiotic solution, Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305, into its health and wellness portfolio. L. gasseri CP2305 is backed by eight clinical trials, demonstrating its support for various aspects of wellness via the gut-brain axis.

“Three of these clinical trials indicate that supplementing one’s diet with L. gasseri CP2305 may support emotional well-being, may support reduced stress, and may be associated with better sleep efficiency, reduced time to fall asleep/reduced sleep latency, healthy overall sleep quality and improved total sleep duration,” details DuBow.

“L. gasseri CP2305 may also be associated with sleep efficiency, duration, and time to fall asleep based on validated questionnaires, with two trials supporting the data using objective measures (electro-encephalograph).”

ADM is also expanding the body of research around its strains. In 2024, it published clinical research on its Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 (ES1) probiotic and postbiotic, with primary findings indicating ES1 may help support overall gut and digestive health.

“Secondary findings in this study showed a significant reduction in stress versus placebo, as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Index,” adds DuBow. “This research emphasizes the importance of the microbiome in not only gut health but also stress and mood management, and much more.”