Gut Microbiome May Take Years to Recover From Antibiotic Use
.jpg?width=1200)
via HealthDayTHURSDAY, March 19, 2026 — Antibiotics are often hailed as miracle drugs for their ability to wipe out dangerous infections, but new research suggests they leave a more lasting footprint on our bodies than previously thought.
A study of nearly 15,000 adults found that certain antibiotics can alter the community of helpful bacteria in our digestive system for nearly a decade.
The research, led by a team at Uppsala University in Sweden and published March 11 in Nature Medicine, mapped the gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria that live in our intestines — of close to 15,000 adults in Sweden.
A stool sample from each participant was analyzed and participants answered a detailed lifestyle and diet questionnaire.
Then, using national drug registries, scientists could see exactly which medications people had taken years prior. They adjusted for other medication use and several characteristics known to affect the microbiome in order to see the effects of antibiotic use.
The results were surprising. For some antibiotics, even a single round of use was linked to decreases in bacterial diversity four to eight years later.
Overall, the worst effects were seen in the first year after using an antibiotic.
“We can see that antibiotic use as far back as four to eight years ago is linked to the composition of a person’s gut microbiome today,” said first author Gabriel Baldanzi, a research assistant at Uppsala University. "Even a single course of treatment with certain types of antibiotics leaves traces."
This is significant because a healthy, diverse microbiome supports human health and wellness. It acts as a shield against infections, boosts immune system health and helps the body digest food for energy.
Not all antibiotics were equal, the study showed.
The damage seen in the gut depended on the type of antibiotic used. Clindamycin, fluoroquinolones and flucloxacillin had the most lasting negative effects on gut health.
On the other hand, penicillin V and some extended-spectrum penicillins, which were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, were found to be much friendlier to the gut. Their impact was small and faded relatively quickly.
The balance of gut bacteria is important to human health.
Previous research has linked high antibiotic use to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, serious gastrointestinal infections and even colon cancer, researchers noted. Scientists suspect these long-term microbiome changes might be the reason why.
“The findings of our study may help inform future recommendations on antibiotic use, especially when choosing between two equally effective antibiotics, one of which has a weaker impact on the gut microbiome,” said lead researcher Dr. Tove Fall, a professor of molecular epidemiology at Uppsala.
Despite these findings, researchers urge patients not to stop taking medications prescribed by their doctors. Instead, the goal is to encourage prescribing the right one when truly necessary to protect the body's internal ecosystem for the long haul.
Sources
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
Source: HealthDay
Posted : 2026-03-20 01:53
Read more
- GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Prove Effective Across Diverse Patient Groups
- Ocular Motor Control, Cognitive Performance Linked After Mild TBI
- Living in Closer Proximity to Nuclear Power Plants May Increase Cancer Mortality Risk
- Women More Likely To Survive Cancer Than Men — At A Cost
- BBQ Sauce Recall Issued Nationwide Due To Incorrect Label
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Similarly Effective Across Age, Race, Starting Weight
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.
The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Popular Keywords
- metformin obat apa
- alahan panjang
- glimepiride obat apa
- takikardia adalah
- erau ernie
- pradiabetes
- besar88
- atrofi adalah
- kutu anjing
- trakeostomi
- mayzent pi
- enbrel auto injector not working
- enbrel interactions
- lenvima life expectancy
- leqvio pi
- what is lenvima
- lenvima pi
- empagliflozin-linagliptin
- encourage foundation for enbrel
- qulipta drug interactions