Emilie LAHAYE

Objective Increased intake of sweets or sugar craving may occur in response to chronic stress representing a risk factor for development of eating disorders and obesity. However, no safe treatment of stress‐induced sugar craving is available. In this study we analysed effects of two Lactobacillus strains on food and sucrose intake in mice before and during their exposure to a chronic mild stress (CMS). Research Methods & Procedures C57Bl6 mice were gavaged daily for 27 days with a mix of L. salivarius (LS) LS7892 and L. gasseri (LG) LG6410 strains or with 0.9% NaCl as a control. Following 10 days of gavage, mice were individually placed into the Modular Phenotypic cages, and after 7 days of acclimation were exposed to a CMS model for 10 days. Food, water and 2% sucrose intakes as well as meal pattern were monitored. Anxiety and depressive‐like behaviour were analysed by standard tests. Results Exposure of mice to CMS was accompanied by increased size of sucrose intake in the control group likely reflecting the stress‐induced sugar craving. A consistent, about 20% lower total sucrose intake, was observed in the Lactobacilli‐treated group during stress which was mainly due to a reduced number of intakes. Lactobacilli treatment also modified the meal pattern before and during the CMS, showing a decrease of meal number and an increase of meal size with a tendency of reduced total daily food intake. Mild anti‐depressive behavioural effects of the Lactobacilli mix were also present. Conclusion Supplementation of mice with LS LS7892 and LG LG6410 decreases sugar consumption suggesting a potential utility of these strains against stress‐induced sugar craving.