Health Update: Probiotics May Offset Antibiotic Gut Damage

Hello everyone:

Here is some good news for all of us because sometimes we may need an antibiotic, yet we can be reluctant to take them because we are aware that it can seriously damage the gut microbiome and thus have deleterious effects on our total health as well. You probably have heard of the Gut-Brain Axis, or the Gut-Liver Axis, or the Gut-Skin Axis and how the health of the gut microbiome and the gut itself is related to blood sugar, mental health, brain function, inflammation, fatigue, autoimmune, skin and many problems. Put simply, gut issues are major drivers of chronic illness and inflammation and can negatively (or positively) affect our health in many ways. The good news from MedicalNewsToday of 11.18.22 is as follows:

• Antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections can reduce the abundance and diversity of gut bacteria, leading to potentially severe diarrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Previous studies suggest that taking probiotics can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
• A recent study reviewing data from randomized controlled trials suggests that supplementing with probiotics could help prevent or attenuate the changes in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota associated with antibiotic treatment.

 “Although there is a concern about shifting the initial gut microbial composition by taking probiotics while on antibiotic interventions, based on the available human evidence, we suggest health professionals continue recommending probiotics when antibiotics are prescribed,” said Dr. Elisa Marroquin, the study’s lead author.

 https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001625

Bottom Line:

 If you need to take antibiotics, make sure you have a good probiotic on hand. The way that I recommend that you take the probiotic is to take it midway between antibiotic dosages. For example, you take your antibiotic in the morning with breakfast and one with dinner. You can consider taking the probiotic at noon and at bed. Of course it would be better to become so healthy that you do not need an antibiotic, but with this information you at least know how to protect yourself.