Crosstalk Between Gut Microbiota, Epigenome, and Neurotransmitters in Health and Disease.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic concepts without primary human data or systematic review methodology.
PubMed 42505389 · doi:10.3390/cells15141280
What was done
This narrative review synthesized current literature on the interactions among the gut microbiota, epigenetic mechanisms, and neurotransmitters (including serotonin, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine). The authors examined how gut microbial metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids, regulate neurotransmitter metabolism and gut-brain communication via epigenetic modifications, as well as the potential for microbiome-modulating therapies.
What was found
The abstract provides no empirical data, statistical analyses, effect sizes, or quantitative findings. It presents conceptual summaries of gut microbiota-epigenome-neurotransmitter pathways and describes theoretical therapeutic implications.
Why it matters
It provides a conceptual framework linking microbial metabolism to epigenetic regulation of neurotransmission, outlining potential targets for microbiome-based interventions in neurological and systemic disorders.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks systematic search criteria, quality appraisal of cited literature, and quantitative meta-analysis. No primary experimental or clinical data were generated or analyzed, and human clinical evidence supporting the proposed therapeutic mechanisms remains to be established.
Cited by
- supports The gut microbiota synthesize neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, as well as their precursors.