Methods and compositions using bifidobacterium longum to treat or prevent depressive symptoms

Abstract

Compositions and methods use Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 (ATCC BAA-999) to treat or prevent a depressive symptom. Prolonged anti-depressive effects can continue after administration of the compositions is ended. Non-limiting examples of a depressive symptom which can be treated or prevented include depressed mood; sadness; anxiety; “empty” feelings; loss of interest or pleasure; irritability; restlessness; changes in appetite or weight; sleep disturbances; lack of or decreased energy; feelings of worthlessness; guilt; helplessness; anger and hostility; difficulty in thinking, concentrating, or making decisions; hopelessness; tiredness; fatigue; memory difficulties; tearfulness; brooding; phobias; excessive worry over physical health; sexual dysfunction; persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment; and combinations thereof. These depressive symptoms can be associated with a depressive state or depressive disorder or can be found sub-clinically or not associated with these depressive states/disorders (e.g., not part of a syndrome or psychiatric disorder).

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of treating a depressive symptom, the method comprising administering an edible composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of  Bifidobacterium longum  ATCC BAA-999 to an individual having the depressive symptom, wherein the depressive symptom is a secondary condition caused by an underlying medical condition selected from the group consisting of an endocrine disease, a cardiovascular disease, a pulmonary disease, a cancer, an autoimmune disease and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the depressive symptom is selected from the group consisting of depressed mood; sadness; anxiety; loss of interest or pleasure; irritability; restlessness; changes in appetite or weight; sleep disturbances; lack of or decreased energy; guilt; helplessness; anger and hostility; difficulty in thinking, concentrating, or making decisions; hopelessness; tiredness; fatigue; memory difficulties; tearfulness; brooding; phobias; excessive worry over physical health; sexual dysfunction; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of a fat, a protein, a carbohydrate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the composition comprises a prebiotic. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the prebiotic is selected from the group consisting of an oligosaccharide, a dietary fiber, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the composition is administered to the individual each day of a time period that is at least six weeks. 
     
     
         31 . The method of claim  1 , wherein at least a portion of the  B. longum  ATCC BAA-999 is alive. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the composition comprises 10 4  to 10 11  cfu of the  B. longum  ATCC BAA-999 per g of dry weight of the composition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the composition is administered to the individual in a daily dose comprising between 10 4  and 10 12  cfu of the  B. longum  ATCC BAA-999. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the daily dose of the composition is administered to the individual each day of a time period that is at least six weeks. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the  B. longum  ATCC BAA-999 is non-replicating cells. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the composition comprises between 10 2  and 10 8  of the non-replicating cells of  B. longum  ATCC BAA-999 per g of dry weight of the composition. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the composition is administered to the individual in a daily dose comprising between 10 4  and 10 10  of the non-replicating cells of  B. longum  ATCC BAA-999. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the daily dose of the composition is administered to the individual each day of a time period that is at least six weeks. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 25 , which is a natural therapy. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the individual has a depressive state or depressive disorder selected from the group consisting of clinical and subclinical depressive states, the DSM-IV classification “a depressive disorder not otherwise specified,” depressive symptoms not fulfilling DSM-IV disorder criteria, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the underlying medical condition is selected from the group consisting of an electrolyte disturbance, a thyroid abnormality, a heart attack, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         42 . A method of treatment of a depressive symptom, the method comprising administering an edible composition to an individual having the depressive symptom and also being administered a synthetic pharmaceutical compound, the edible composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount or a prophylactically effective amount of  Bifidobacterium longum  ATCC BAA-999, wherein the depressive symptom is a secondary condition caused by an underlying medical condition selected from the group consisting of an endocrine disease, a cardiovascular disease, a pulmonary disease, a cancer, an autoimmune disease and combinations thereof, and wherein the combination of the synthetic pharmaceutical compound and the edible composition treats the depressive symptom. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the underlying medical condition is selected from the group consisting of a thyroid abnormality, a heart attack, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis.