April Sackett

The effects of kombucha on ameliorating depression and anxiety and modulating the gut microbiome have been previously demonstrated in a mouse model. For this project metabolomic analyses were conducted in fecal samples of those mice, and it was hypothesized that the observed positive effects of kombucha resulted from modifying the levels of chemicals associated with depression and anxiety in the gut. Previously, mice fed either a control diet or a high-fat, high-sugar total western diet (TWD) were given either water or kombucha and tested for signs of depression, demonstrating an anti-depressive effect of kombucha. Their feces were then tested for the presence of different metabolomic markers of communication between gut and brain. Results show a significant difference in metabolite profiles between mice fed the TWD and the control diet. However, analysis of the water and kombucha groups within each diet provided additional information. The TWD had a negative effect on the mice regardless of kombucha status. Analysis of the fecal metabolome showed a difference between the mice who consumed kombucha and the mice who did not. Analysis of each diet revealed that the mice provided with kombucha had levels of metabolomic markers that indicated a reduction in anxious and depressive behaviors. Within the control diet group, the kombucha mice had significant differences from mice receiving only water. This supports the observations that kombucha lessened the signs of depression and anxiety in the mice.