A leading Indonesian paediatric health executive underscores the importance of a healthy gut microbiome in influencing behaviour, anxiety, and early signs of depression in children, though scientific evidence remains inconclusive.
A leading Indonesian paediatric health executive has said that children’s digestive health can influence behaviour, anxiety and early signs of depression, arguing that the gut and brain are linked through a two-way communication system. Speaking in Jakarta on Thursday, Ray Wagiu Basrowi, medical and scientific affairs director at Danone Indonesia, said beneficial bacteria in the intestines produce metabolites that help drive that connection and that disruption to the system can show up as behavioural problems in children.
Basrowi said maintaining a healthy balance of gut microflora matters for growth and development, and he recommended a combination of prebiotics, which feed good bacteria, and probiotics, which supply live beneficial bacteria. He described that combination as synbiotics and said it can help keep the digestive system stable and support the gut-brain connection.
He also said a child’s microbiome can improve when good bacteria are given both nourishment and additional microbial support, adding that the resulting mix can resemble the conditions seen in infants who receive exclusive breast-feeding and natural foods. Prebiotics are generally found in dietary fibre while probiotics come from fermented foods, although Basrowi warned that both can lose their effectiveness if handled poorly or consumed in unhygienic conditions.
The broader science, however, is more cautious than the claim that gut bacteria directly shape children’s mental health. A 2023 study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity involving 1,784 10-year-olds found no significant link between gut microbiome diversity and overall or specific mental health problems, and the authors said more research is needed. A separate 2021 scoping review of young people with behavioural and mental health problems reached a similar conclusion, saying evidence for a gut-mental health connection is growing but remains inconclusive.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
