Sribas Chowdhury, Adamas University, Kolkata
Anxiety disorder is increasingly becoming a common problem amongst the current generation. A little anxiety is considered to be beneficial on evolutionary terms as it induces the mindset of survival. However, too much of it can equally harm a person physically and mentally. This makes the treatment of anxiety disorders tricky. Relieving anxiety disorders also deals with the sensitive neural pathways and the hippocampus, making the process even more complicated.
Although therapy and medications are readily available, they also come with their side effects. Also, the circuits of anxiety are closely related to parts of the brain responsible for awareness and cognition. Thus, there is always a potential threat of loss of neurocognitive abilities due to the side effects of medications. So, scientists were on the lookout for a remedy that didn’t cause unwanted side effects. One such remedy was found to be Beta-sitosterol.
Beta-sitosterol is a plant-based dietary supplement used mainly to reduce cholesterol levels. It is a phytosterol and is mainly found in vegetable oils, avocado and nuts. A recent study on mice revealed this compound to be beneficial for reducing anxiety levels under stressful conditions.
The study started in the lab of Professor Mike Fanzilber in Weizmann’s Biomolecular Sciences, revolved around studying proteins that send impulses (shuttle) into the nuclei of nerve cells and was carried out on a group of mice. It revealed that when kept under stress, certain mice who lack a shuttling protein called “importing alpha-five”, showed less levels of anxiety than others. The genetic expression that results in lack of protein was found out and the pattern of the genetic expression, called genetic signature was pointed out. The researchers then studied existing drugs and compounds to find the one which mimicked the same genetic signature. In conclusion, it was seen that Beta-sitosterol was closed to showing a similar genetic signature.
Further research was conducted wherein the mice were given a dose of Beta-sitosterol in a synergistic combination with Fluorexine. Fluorexine, commonly known as Prozac, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. The combination worked together and lowered anxiety levels of mice in smaller doses than the doses needed when administered separately. Moreover, the mice did not show any side effect that antidepressants usually exhibit.
These findings opened up a new horizon in the direction of treating mental health issues. Although the exact mechanism of working of beta-sitosterol and its effectiveness on human anxiety levels are still not known, researchers are still hopeful. If it is tested and proved successfully, it can be taken as a supplement that can reduce anxiety with minimal side effects. This has the potential to revolutionize how mental health patients are treated and can lead to newer and more diverse possibilities in that direction.
Also read: VEGAN MILK vs ANIMAL DAIRY PRODUCTS
References:
- Nicolas Panayotis, Philip A. Freund, LetiziaMarvaldi, TaliShalit, Alexander Brandis, TevieMehlman, Michael M. Tsoory, Mike Fainzilber. β-sitosterol reduces anxiety and synergizes with established anxiolytic drugs in mice. Cell Reports Medicine, 2021; 2 (5): 100281 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100281
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-939/beta-sitosterol
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