The probiotic known as Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 has been shown to normalize anxiety-like behavior in mice with infectious colitis.
A study found that chronic colitis was associated with anxiety-like behavior. Treatment with B. longum was found to reduce the symptoms, and to also positively affect hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor.
According to the study, as reprinted on the website Green Med Info:
“As B. longum decreases excitability of enteric neurons, it may signal to the central nervous system by activating vagal pathways at the level of the enteric nervous system.”