Gut-Brain Axis–based Treatment in Addiction

To the Editor: Addiction is a serious problem and despite many advances in the treatment of addiction, lots of addicts relapse to abusing drugs. The main problem in addiction is the lack of effective treatment based on the pathophysiology of the disease. Therefore, many studies have been done to understand the basic mechanisms that may be effective in controlling drug abuse. Recently, it has been well documented that the gut-brain axis plays an important role in brain diseases such as anxiety and depression. Since the addiction circuit mainly located in brain areas such as the reward circuit, it is not surprising that the gut-brain axis may cause changes in reward circuit functions. Recently, it has been well documented that dopamine secretion can be altered by changes in the microbiota. It is well known that changes in the colonization of human gut microbiota may result in neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases. Different mechanisms have been proposed based on anatomic pathways and hormone secretion but to date, no definite mechanism has been proposed. However, based on the studies in this regard the best treatment for addiction can have 2 ways. First, we can think of changing the existing present microbiota in addicts and the second is the administration of hormones that may be related to the gut-brain axis. Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum have successfully been used in mood disorders and in addition, positive outcomes have achieved and more studies will reveal the best treatment. Administration of hormones should be taken with caution because someof themare useful and someof them have a negative outcome. So, hormones should be used with caution.