ISSN: 2329-8901
Edwin A Mitchell*
This study aimed to investigate whether supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 reduced the build-up of stress, reduced symptoms of anxiety, and improved psychological wellbeing in university students leading up to examinations. The study design was a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled trial. The New Zealand university system operates on two semesters per year, with examinations for a paper held at the end of a semester. Participants were undergraduate students at the University of Auckland enrolled in semester one of 2020. Exclusion criteria were: currently taking a regular probiotic supplement, taking immunosuppressant’s, e.g., chemotherapy, or current participation in another research trial.