Prebiotic Effects on Anxiety, Cortisol, and Emotional Processing in Mild-to-Moderately Stressed Adults

The levels of stress that we experience as a population are continuing to rise due to financial, social and work pressures, particularly in mid-life where additional factors such as family and career often compound these issues. When we experience high levels of stress for prolonged periods, this often has detrimental effects on our mental and physical wellbeing, leading to chronic illness and mental health disorders. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres found in food and supplements which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Research shows that prebiotics may be used as a lifestyle intervention to support individuals experiencing stress and help reduce physiological and psychological feelings of stress. As such, this study will build on previous research and explore whether a prebiotic supplement (Bimuno®) has a beneficial effect on stress, mental health outcomes, and sleep in mild-to-moderately stressed adults. To address these questions, participants will take the prebiotic or a placebo for 6 weeks, and visit the University of Reading to complete some questionnaires and cognitive tests at the start and end of the trial. The investigators will also ask participants to collect saliva samples to see if the prebiotics influence cortisol levels, which are linked to stress.