THE IMPACT OF STRESS ON GUT HEALTH

Description:
Presented in: 15th World Probiotics and Gut Health Conference
Date: December 17-19, 2025
Venue: Novotel Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE
Name: Ms. Katarina Lijovic

F. Riccobene¹ and L. C. Nitoi², ¹ Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați. Str. Alexandru Ioan Cuza nr. 35, 800010 Galați, Romania ² Medical Clinical Department, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, Str. Domnească 47, 800008 Galați, Romania.

Introduction:
Stress exerts profound effects on gastrointestinal physiology via the bidirectional gut-brain axis. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) signaling increases intestinal permeability through mast cell-dependent mechanisms.

Concomitant sympathetic nervous system activation reduces gastric motility, impairs mucosal blood flow, and alters epithelial tight junction functions, thereby facilitating microbial translocation and low-grade systemic inflammation. Chronic stress further disrupts microbiota composition, reducing short-chain fatty acids-producing taxa while enriching pathobionts linked to gut dysbiosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) phenotypes.

Conversely, parasympathetic (vagal) signaling restores homeostasis through cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways, enhances gastrointestinal motility, and supports mucosal barrier function.

This review synthesizes translational and clinical findings on stress-induces gut dysfunction and proposes an integrative therapeutic framework that combines nutrition strategies, precision psychobiotics, and mind-body interventions to mitigate the adverse impact of stress on gut health.

 

Keywords: gut-brain axis; stress; HPA axis; intestinal permeability, gut health

References:

[1] Schol J. et al. (2025) Am. J. Physiol Gastrointest. Liver Physiol., 328, 457-464 [2] Marwaha K et al. (2025) Journ. App. Phys., 128, 518-535 [3] Rodiño-Janeiro B. K. (2025) Front. Microbiol., 15, 1441126 [4] Mehta, I et al. (2025) Cureus, 17, e.81447 [5] Slykerman R. F. et al. (2025) Microb. Biotechnol., 18, e70079 [6] Berdig K. et al. (2022) Mol. Psych., 28, 601-610

Research interest: Gut microbiome, gut health, autoimmune conditions, nutritional strategies for chronic health conditions

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