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EATING A CERTAIN

PROTEIN IS RELATED

TO DEVELOPING

DEPRESSION

A new study shows, in humans,

mice, and flies, that elevated plasma
levels and a diet rich in the amino acid
proline cause a more severe state

of depression.

Amino acids are mono- caught fish. The findings, plasma metabolomics was became more depressed Finally, the same experi-
mers that are the building published in the scientific evaluated, the concentra- had received the microbio- ment was performed on
blocks of protein. When journal Cell Metabolism, tion of proline emerged ta of participants with high genetically modified flies to
a person consumes food also link a proline-rich diet as one of the metabolites proline, or more depressed eliminate the channels that
containing protein, the to an increased risk of most associated with indi- subjects. Different genes carry proline to the brain.
protein is broken down into developing depression. cators of depression. associated with the trans- In this case, the proline was
amino acids by the diges- port of proline were also unable to reach the brain,
tive system. To carry out Dr. José Manuel Fernán- PROLINE LEVELS, found in the brains of these and the flies proved to be
bodily functions, the body dez-Real and Dr. Jordi DEPENDING ON THE mice. “The possibility of highly resilient to depres-
then combines the amino Mayneris-Perxachs from MICROBIOTA transferring the depression sion.
acids in different ways. the IDIBGI and CIBEROBN phenotype from humans
There are 20 different research groups on Nutri- But not everyone who had to mice through microbiota THE IMPORTANCE OF
amino acids, of which 9 are tion, Eumetabolism, and a high intake of proline was transplantation and the PROLINE IN FUTURE
considered essential amino Health led the study, as did more depressed. When demonstration that such TREATMENTS
acids because they cannot Dr. Rafael Maldonado from studying these people’s in- transplantation gener-
be made by the body and the Pompeu Fabra Uni- testinal microbiota, a rela- ates alterations in proline “These results demon-
must come from food. versity Neuropharmacol- tionship was also observed transport reveals that this strate the importance of
ogy-Neurophar research between depression proline may be associated proline and its influence on
Newly released research group, which is affiliated and bacteria, as well as causally with depression”, people’s depressive mood,
confirms the link between with the Hospital de la Mar between depression and explains Dr. Maldonado, of which so far had not been
a certain amino acid called Medical Research Institute bacterial genes associated UPF. taken into account,” high-
proline and depression. (IMIM). with proline metabolism. lights Dr. Fernández-Real.
Proline is a nonessential Thus, it was observed that Another confirmatory The study also opens the
amino acid and is found To reach these conclusions, circulating proline levels experiment was carried out way for new studies to find
in grass-fed beef, pas- on the one hand, the type depended on the micro- using fruit flies (Drosophila possible diet-based treat-
ture-raised chicken, gelatin, and amount of amino acids biota. “The microbiota of melanogaster), in which a ments for depression.
bone broth, organ meats in the diet of the partici- patients with high proline more depressive mood can
like liver, and cage-free pants were analyzed. Par- consumption but low plas- be induced. The research- This study has also en-
egg yolks. According to the ticipants also completed a ma levels of proline was ers isolated two types of joyed the collaboration of
study, a diet rich in proline questionnaire to measure similar to the microbiota bacteria from the microbi- researchers from the FISA-
is linked to an increased their depressive mood. associated with low levels ota associated with proline BIO Foundation, the Lleida
risk of depression. “We were surprised that of depression and was consumption and added Biomedical Research
what was most associated enriched in bacterial genes them to the flies’ sterilized Institute (IRBLleida), and
Researchers from Girona with depression, evaluated involved in the transport feed. Flies that ingested the Institute for Integrative
Biomedical Research Insti- through this questionnaire, and metabolism of proline”, food with Lactobacillus, Systems Biology (I2SysBio)
tute (IDIBGI) and Pompeu was the consumption of states Dr. Mayneris-Perx- which in mice was associ- of the University of Valen-
Fabra University (UPF) in proline,” says Dr. Fernán- achs, a Miguel Servet ated with less depression, cia and the CSIC.
Barcelona, Spain, have dez-Real, of the IDIBGI, and researcher at the IDIBGI. showed they were more
discovered the role of an also head of the Endocri- willing to overcome difficul- Reference: “Microbiota al-
amino acid in depression nology Section at Hospital To find out if the presence ties they faced afterward. terations in proline metab-
in humans, mice, and flies. Dr. Josep Trueta in Girona of proline was a cause or a In contrast, those that in- olism impact depression”
It is proline, an amino acid and director of the Depart- consequence of depressive gested Enterobacter, which by Jordi Mayneris-Perx-
found in a broad range ment of Medical Sciences mood, participants’ mi- is associated with depres- achs, DOI: 10.1016/j.
of foods such as gelatin, at the University of Girona. crobiota was transplanted sion in humans, were much cmet.2022.04.001
grass-fed beef, and wild- Confirming this, when into mice. The rodents that more depressed.