Taking antibiotics? Sugar may be making the damage worse
Eating more sugar while taking antibiotics was linked to greater disruption of the gut microbiome and increased growth of potentially harmful bacteria. Researchers say temporarily cutting back on sweets during and after antibiotic treatment could be a simple way to reduce this damage, though clinical trials are still needed.
Consuming sugar while on antibiotics may exacerbate harm to beneficial gut bacteria, according to recent research. The study examined the intestinal microbiome, a complex network of bacteria that plays crucial roles in digestion, immune function, and other essential processes. Antibiotics, while effective against harmful bacteria, also eliminate beneficial species, potentially allowing dangerous pathogens to proliferate.
A healthy, diverse microbiome is better equipped to resist harmful species. Researchers from NYU Langone Health, City of Hope, and Memorial Sloan Kettering monitored 9,419 meals consumed by 173 hospitalized cancer patients undergoing antibiotic treatment. For every additional 100 grams of sugar consumed within 48 hours of treatment, the researchers noted a 21% decrease in alpha diversity, a metric of bacterial variety in the gut.
The findings, published in Nature, also revealed that sugary diets combined with antibiotics were linked to higher levels of Enterococcus faecium, a bacterium associated with difficult-to-treat infections. Similar results were observed in mouse experiments. The study's co-senior author, Dr. Jonas Schluter, suggests that dietary modifications, particularly reducing sugar intake, could mitigate antibiotic-induced microbiome disruption.
He notes that previous research has highlighted the link between antibiotic-induced microbiome injury and long-term health problems. The team focused on blood cancer patients, as they frequently receive antibiotics and have closely monitored dietary intake. The researchers recorded all meals and collected daily microbiome samples, making this one of the largest and most detailed studies of its kind.
The microbiome's role in cancer care is becoming increasingly important, as a healthy gut microbiome can significantly impact treatment outcomes. The study's co-senior author, Dr. Marcel van den Brink, emphasizes that understanding the impact of everyday factors like diet on this delicate balance is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
The researchers plan to conduct clinical trials to test whether dietary changes can enhance clinical outcomes in patients undergoing antibiotic treatment.
Written by urgent.news from ScienceDaily Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Taking antibiotics? Sugar may be making the damage worse sciencedaily.com
