Gut health, antibiotics and dysbiosis

Dysbiosis is the term for an imperfect balance of 'good' and 'bad' bacteria in the gut. A course of antibiotics can upset this delicate balance, which can cause all kinds of digestive problems.

Antibiotics and dysbiosis

Antibiotics are potentially life-saving drugs which, at one time, were readily prescribed 'just in case' to treat conditions for which they weren't needed, such as the common cold.¹ Antibiotic prescribing is now more closely regulated due to a growing problem with bacterial resistance (in which bacteria adapt so key antibiotics are no longer effective).

There is also a growing recognition that certain antibiotics can cause health problems - especially in the gut - and, paradoxically increase your susceptibility to infections.² This is a problem when broad-spectrum antibiotics are used which, rather than targeting just a few types of bacteria, have a scattergun approach which kills 'good' bacteria as well as the bad. This can lead to a condition known as gut dysbiosis.

What is dysbiosis?

Gut dysbiosis is an imbalance in the digestive bacteria normally found in the gut. Your gut is inhabited by a complex population of bacteria which, together, are referred to as the microbiota. The most beneficial digestive bacteria are strains of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. These produce lactic acid, activate immune cells, stimulate antibody production and compete for nutrients to help suppress the growth of less beneficial or harmful bacteria. Probiotic bacteria also produce substances such as short-chain fatty acids (eg acetate) which 'feed' intestinal lining cells and increase the integrity of your gut barrier to reduce problems due to a leaky gut.³

Scientists who use special rDNA probes to identify which species of bacteria are present in the gut have found dramatic and long-term changes occur in the balance of the intestinal microbiota following antibiotic treatment. Taking the antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, for five days, can change the abundance of roughly one-third of gut bacterial species, for example.⁴

Although the microbiota mostly returns to normal one month after stopping ciprofloxacin treatment, several types of bacteria fail to recover, even after this relatively short course of antibiotics. Another study found that taking clindamycin for seven days greatly reduced the diversity of Bacteroides species present and these did not return to their original balance for up to two years after stopping clindamycin treatment.⁵ Among the most commonly used penicillin antibiotics, ampicillin and amoxicillin also produce persistent changes in gut microbiota, including the depletion of Lactobacillus species.⁶

Why is gut dysbiosis a problem?

Gut dysbiosis can cause a number of digestive symptoms, including bloating, flatulence and diarrhoea. In fact, diarrhoea is the most common gut side effect and affects between 5% and 35% of people taking antibiotics.⁷

Dysbiosis also increases the chance of gastroenteritis (food poisoning) with bacteria such as Salmonella and can reduce immune responses against influenza virus. Gut dysbiosis is also associated with long-term intestinal problems such as diverticular disease,⁸ irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Because gut bacteria help to prime the immune system, the latest research suggests that gut dysbiosis also increases the risk of health problems affecting other parts of the body, including asthma and allergies,⁹ diabetes and arthritis.¹⁰

How to reduce dysbiosis when taking antibiotics

There are times when antibiotics are undoubtedly needed and if your doctor has prescribed them you should always complete the full course. One of the most effective ways to reduce dysbiosis during and after a course of antibiotics is to take a probiotic supplement to replenish your levels of 'good' bacteria. A recent analysis of the results from 31 trials, involving 8,672 people, confirmed that taking a probiotic supplement can prevent even the most serious form of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, caused by an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile, in adults and children.¹¹ The study also confirmed that probiotics are safe and effective when used alongside antibiotics in patients who are not immunocompromised or severely debilitated.

For general health, I usually recommend taking a probiotic that provides between 5 billion and 20 billion probiotic bacteria per day. If you are taking antibiotics, however, then a supplement that provides 20 billion to 50 billion probiotic bacteria is advisable for adults. If in doubt, talk to your doctor and follow their advice.

If you'd like to read more about the benefits of keeping a healthy gut, as well as find more information on how you can promote good gut health, select Digestion from the Your health menu above.