Fos levels in mouse brain linked to degree of susceptibility to depression from stress (FOS = A food-based indigestible sugar)

Medical Xpress / Kyoto University / Science Advances ^ | April 6, 2033 | Bob Yirka / Hiromichi Inaba et al

[ConservativeMind]

A team of neurobiologists has found that mice with lower levels of Fos (short and medium-chain sugar molecules that are indigestible in the body) in their brains tend to be more susceptible to depression related to stress than mice with higher levels of the chemical. In their study, the group stress-tested mice and then tested levels of Fos in their brains.

Prior research has shown that people respond to stressful situations in different ways—some shrug them off while others tend to suffer longer-term repercussions. Such scenarios suggest that some forms of depression may have a genetic link. Prior research has also shown that mice have similar differences.

In this effort, the researchers placed several mice into stressful conditions for nearly a week. They then separated them into two groups based on whether or not they became depressed due to the stress. Next, the researchers dissected the brains of mice in both groups looking for differences. They found that the mice that were more susceptible to depression had much lower levels of Fos in their brains.

The team then edited the genes responsible for expression of Fos to reduce levels in mice not susceptible to depression and found that doing so made them more susceptible to depression after stress testing. Next, the team studied brain tissue from humans that had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder—they found that they also had lower levels of Fos in their brains, suggesting that the level of the molecules in their brain may be a marker for depression susceptibility.

The team next plans to look for therapies that can be used to increase levels of Fos production in the brain—and then to test them to see if they might help patients suffering from severe forms of the disease.

[ConservativeMind]

It would appear the mice were fed a normal diet, and stress caused the FOS to leave the brain or get used up. Regardless, FOS can be easily supplemented by eating foods with chicory root, garlic, onions, artichokes, and blue agave, according to Healthline.com.

[ConservativeMind]

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[lee martell]

A mouse can suffer from depression?
Paranoia, I could understand.
Everywhere they look, a predator awaits.

[coincheck]

Sorry, I thought FOS, was “full of sh—“
Which would make anyone depressed.
And stressed out….
Then I read the article…….

[TChad]

fos: fructo-oligosaccharides

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-450/fructo-oligosaccharides-fos

[dynachrome]

Yes to garlic and onion. The others....meh

[Chicory]

Each of which is high on FODMAPS, which are theorized to cause or aggravate IBS.

Can’t win for losing, I tell you.

[ConservativeMind]

You may not be far off from being able to have all fibers. You may just need to limit the amounts to where they start to produce gas, to any extent. NDC stands for NonDigestible Carbohydrate in the following graph, and the numbers are the Tolerable Intake grams per day one can take before noticing gas complications. Note that normally people can have 7.8 grams of FOS or only 5 grams of inulin a day before excess gas is generated.

Abstract and full study available here:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36041173/

[ConservativeMind]

Here is more specific insight for your condition:

Fibre supplements & IBS
https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/fibre-supplements-ibs/

[tired&retired]

“The team next plans to look for therapies that can be used to increase levels of Fos production in the brain—”

Try BEANO.

The Alpha-galactosidase enzyme breaks polysaccharides, or long chain sugars into monosaccharides, or short chain sugars that are digestable. It is availsble in Walmart for about $5 per 100 tablets. It is the main ingredient in Beano.

[Chicory]

Thanks so much!

[DannyTN]

“Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are oligosaccharides that occur naturally in plants such as onion, chicory, garlic, asparagus, banana, artichoke, among many others.”