I have done a few posts on depression over the years

• CFS Depression, Diet and the Microbiome
• Depression, Confusion, Fear – the protocol disrupters
• Depression: “Natural”, CFS, and other forms
• Psychoactive Probiotics!

A friend asked me to revisit it, especially now that I have a recommendation program working.

Depression and the Microbiome – PubMed

From The role of microbiota in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder and the possibility of targeting microbiota as a treatment option [2017].

• over-presentation of the orders of Bacteroidales and
• under-presentation of the orders of  Lachnospiraceae,
• Higher level of Oscillibacter and Alistipes had higher depression
•  increased levels of Enterobacteriaceae and Alistipes
•  reduced levels of Faecalibacterium 

Altered fecal microbiota composition in patients with major depressive disorder [2015]. adds that “Bacterial diversity was significantly higher ” and also reported additionally (for two types of depression):

• higher Bacteroidaceae,
• higher Butyricimonas,
• higher Clostridium XlVb
• higher Enterobacteriaceae,
• higher Parabacteroides,
• higher Phascolarctobacterium,
• higher Porphyromonadaceae,
• higher Rikenellaceae
• higher Roseburia
• higher Acidaminococcaceae,
• higher Flavonifractor,
• higher Proteobacteria
• lower Actinobacteria
• lower Fusobacteria,
• lower Ruminococcaceae,
• lower Veillonellaceae 
• lower Lachnospiraceae,
• lower Dialister,
• lower Escherichia/Shigella,
• lower Firmicutes,
• lower Haemophilus,
• lower Prevotella,
• lower Ruminococcus

Additionally, Isovaleric acid in stool correlates with human depression.[2016] hence isovaleric acid producing bacteria appear to be another facet.

Isovaleric acid producing bacteria includes [ref]:

• Bacillus subtilis natto
• Prevotella
• Porphyromonas

Automated Analysis of your Ubiome

After you logged on to http://microbiomeprescription.com/  This Depression link will show your results against the above list. As a reminder, there are other comparisons available:

• Autism
• Autoimmune Disease
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Crohn’s Disease
• Depression
• High Blood Pressure
• Histamine Issues
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Mood Disorders
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Ulcerative colitis

The result is a report such as shown below

At the bottom is a link to recommendations for the ‘Match’ items above only. That is, the recommendations are specific to the depression symptom.

For the first one on the list, I did a google and found lots of pages saying that pomegranate helps depression!

• Take Pomegranate for Depression and Reduce Symptoms
• 9 Pomegranate Healing Benefits – Dr. Mercola
• Foods That Can Help Anxiety & Depression | LIVESTRONG.COM

Imagine that! With the microbiome approach, you are getting truly individualized suggestions and not proforma suggestions.

This is an education post to facilitate discussing this approach with your medical professionals. It is not medical advice for the treatment of any medical condition. Always consult with your medical professional before doing any  changes of diet, supplements or activity. Some items cites may interfere with prescription medicines.