A postbiotic given before traumatic brain injury reduced brain damage and improved cognitive performance in mice, a study suggests.
Postbiotics are substances produced when gut bacteria digest food. The findings raise the possibility that they could be investigated as a preventive treatment for people at risk of head trauma.
The research focused on indole-3-propionic acid, or IPA, a molecule produced when gut bacteria break down tryptophan.
Researchers found that higher levels of IPA were associated with less swelling around brain lesions and better neurological outcomes six months later.
They then tested IPA in mice, giving it before traumatic brain injuries. The treated mice had less brain damage and performed better on cognitive tests.
The findings suggest IPA could be explored as a preventive measure for people at risk of traumatic brain injury, including football players and military personnel.
Further studies will investigate the potential benefits of taking the postbiotic before head trauma in humans.
The potential neurological benefits of IPA date back to 1999.
The molecule is inexpensive and can be taken orally, factors that could make it a useful strategy for limiting the negative effects of head trauma.
