Stress impacted the gut microbiota, anxiety-like behavior, and hippocampal neurons.
Prebiotic 3′Sialyllactose (SL) or 6′SL diminished stress effects on gut microbiota.
Stress did not induce anxiety-like behavior in mice given 3′SL or 6′SL.
Stress did not reduce immature hippocampal neurons in mice given 3′SL or 6′SL.
Maintaining the gut–brain axis with diet can diminish behavioral stress effects.