Antibiotics and your gut

Antibiotics are amazing drugs that have saved countless lives, but they do have certain unwanted side effects. Below are excerpts of an article from Medical News regarding antibiotics and your gut. Link at bottom.

The Immunomodulatory Effects of Antibiotics on the Gut Microbiota

There is a bi-directional relationship between the gut microbiome and antibiotics. Alongside direct effects, antibiotics can exert indirect effects.

As a consequence of gut microbiota dysbiosis (a disruption to the microbiota homeostasis caused by an imbalance between the types of organisms) and dysregulation, the immune system is disrupted. Both in vitro and ex vivo studies have demonstrated that short-term treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics can affect humoral and cellular immune responses.

The influence of antibiotics on intestinal bacterial diversity and long-term abuse has also been identified as a risk factor for the development of metabolic disorders. In an experimental animal model, there was a correlation between a loss of the gut microbiome diversity induced by antibiotics and augmented atherosclerosis. Specifically, this was driven by a reduction in Bacteroidetes and Clostridia.

The gut microbiota is a complex community organized around launch networks of metabolic interdependencies. A well-established body of research demonstrates that gut microbiota is vital for normal development and the functioning of the human body. It is especially functional in the maturation of the adaptive immune system. Antibiotics can result in several negative consequences on the gut microbiota, from reduced diversity of species, alteration in metabolic activity, and the selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms, resulting in downstream effects such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and recurring C difficile infections.

There is also evidence that early exposure to antibiotics can impact gastrointestinal, immunological, and neurocognitive systems. This is problematic due to the increased use of antibiotics, which suggests a future increase in the prevalence of acute conditions. To address this challenge, continuing to research on the composition and function of the gut microbiota is necessary.

Link to article:  https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Effect-of-Antibiotics-on-the-Gut-Microbiome.aspx#:~:text=Antibiotics%20can%20result%20in%20several,and%20recurring%20C%20difficile%20infections.