Supplements of the Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota may ease symptoms of anxiety in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to new research.
Two months of supplementation with the bacterial strain was associated with a decrease in anxiety symptoms. The research is still preliminary, and raises many questions regarding the mechanism of action.
Researchers recruited 39 CFS patients and randomly assigned them to receive daily supplements of either Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (24 billion colony forming units) or a placebo for two months. At the end of the study, a significant reduction in the symptoms of anxiety was recorded in the Lactobacillus group.