Stress Hormones and the Gut Microbiota Composition and Function

Numerous indications exist for the cross-talk between microbiota composition, stress hormone levels, and behavior. Host stress and levels of stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) alter the microbial diversity and composition, whereas microbiota has been shown to regulate the host stress response and hormones. These dual effects are apparent in both animal models and human subjects. Understanding the correlations between microbiota and stress is relevant for chronic stress-related disorders such as Major Depression Disorder (MDD), anxiety, and autoimmune disease as well as for developing potential therapies for stress. The functional effects of microbiota in stress may include both metabolic and immune components.