The Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on State and Trait Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms in Stressed Adults

Exclusion Criteria

• •a history of gastrointestinal discomfort or surgery, urinary incontinence, cancer, toxic shock syndrome, frequent diarrhea, vital signs outside of the acceptable range (i.e., blood pressure \>160/100, oral temperature \>100°F, pulse \>100), heart disease, heart attack, lung/respiratory disease, any pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic or renal functional abnormality (i.e. a medical diagnosis related to lungs, heart, stomach/intestines, liver, or kidneys), HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or confirmed or suspected immunosuppression or immunodeficiency
• •current (past month) alcohol or substance abuse or dependence (score of 2+ on the UNCOPE)
• •consistent (e.g., 5x/week or greater) probiotic supplementation within the last month, including probiotic food products such as yogurt
• •receiving antibiotics within the last month
• •receiving medications that interfere with gut motility (opiates, loperamide, stool softeners)
• •use of systemic antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, or antiparasitics (intravenous, intramuscular, or oral)
• •use of oral, intravenous, intramuscular, nasal or inhaled corticosteroids
• •use of cytokines or cytokine inhibitors
• •use of methotrexate or immunosuppressive cytotoxic agents
• •receiving immunosuppressive drugs/medications or treatment including antineoplastic therapy, post-transplantation immunosuppressive therapy, and/or radiation therapy
• •participation in conflicting interventional research protocol
• •unstable dietary history as defined by major changes in diet during the previous month, where the subject has eliminated or significantly increased a major food group in their diet
• •female who is pregnant or lactating or reports expecting to get pregnant during the course of the study
• •currently involved in the criminal justice system as a prisoner or ward of the state