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Microbes in the gut may be a cause of social anxiety disorder (SAD), according to new research. The gut microbiome, which consists of bacteria and other organisms in the gastrointestinal system, has been found to differ in individuals with SAD compared to healthy individuals. It is also known that the gut microbiome can influence the brain and vice versa. In a recent study, researchers transplanted gut microbes from people with SAD into mice and found that the mice showed an increased response to social fear

This finding adds to previous research that has shown similar results for other conditions such as depression and irritable bowel syndrome. The study highlights the importance of taking care of our gut microbes, both during development and adulthood, in order to maintain proper functioning of the social brain. The researchers took fecal samples from both healthy individuals and those with SAD and confirmed that the gut microbiome differed significantly between the two groups. The samples were transferred to laboratory mice that had previously been given antibiotics to kill off their natural gut microbes

The mice were then subjected to various behavioral tests. The results showed that mice with gut microbes from individuals with SAD had different levels of certain bacterial species in their feces compared to mice with gut microbes from healthy individuals. Notably, the mice with SAD gut microbes continued to exhibit fear of approaching other mice even after the shocks used to induce fear were removed. This suggests that the gut microbiome can play a causal role in heightened social fear responses in SAD

The study also suggests that altering the microbiome through diet could be a potential therapeutic option for individuals with SAD. Increasing the consumption of fibers and fermented foods may have beneficial effects on the gut microbiome.