Recent years have seen extensive research on the effects of antibiotics on the gut environment. The gut environment plays a crucial role in digestion and immune function, making it essential for maintaining health. However, antibiotic use can have a significant impact on the gut environment.
While antibiotics are highly effective for treating bacterial infections, they can also kill beneficial bacteria in the gut, disrupting its balance. As a result, the gut environment may deteriorate, potentially causing side effects like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
As a countermeasure, it is crucial to consult with a doctor when using antibiotics and adhere to the appropriate dosage and duration. Additionally, actively consuming foods containing probiotics during and after antibiotic use can effectively aid in restoring the gut environment. These considerations are essential for maintaining a healthy gut environment.
Gut Environment
The gut environment refers to the balance of microorganisms present in the intestines and the overall health of the gut. The microorganisms inhabiting our intestines are mostly bacteria, but also include viruses and fungi. These microorganisms play an essential role in maintaining our health, such as aiding digestion and supporting immune function. A balanced gut microbiota is particularly known to promote overall health.
The gut environment is primarily influenced by diet. Consuming dietary fiber and fermented foods increases beneficial bacteria, improving gut health. Conversely, stress, irregular eating habits, and overuse of antibiotics can increase harmful bacteria, worsening the gut environment. Therefore, maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are crucial for preserving gut health. This maximizes the gut’s functionality and enhances overall health.
Types of Antibiotics and Their Effects
Antibiotics are medications primarily used to treat bacterial infections, and there are several types. Commonly, these include penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, and quinolones, each possessing a distinct mechanism of action.
penicillin antibiotics
Penicillin antibiotics were the first antibiotics discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Drugs in this group effectively kill bacteria by destroying their cell walls. Penicillin is highly effective against many bacterial infections and is often used to treat pneumonia, throat infections, and skin infections.
Penicillin antibiotics include penicillin G, penicillin V, and amoxicillin. Amoxicillin can be administered orally and is frequently used in clinical practice because it is convenient for patients to use.
However, it is important to consult a doctor before use, as it may cause allergic reactions in some people. When used appropriately, it can be expected to have a high therapeutic effect.
Cephalosporin antibiotics
Cephalosporin antibiotics, also known as cephalosporins, are a group of antibiotics effective against a wide range of bacteria. They exhibit particularly strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and certain Gram-negative bacteria. This class is highly useful in treating infections, addressing various conditions such as respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.
Cephalosporin antibiotics are classified into four generations, from first to fourth. As the generation increases, the antimicrobial spectrum broadens, and effectiveness against resistant bacteria improves. First-generation cephalosporins are highly effective primarily against Gram-positive bacteria, while fourth-generation cephalosporins are designed to address complex infections.
However, since cephalosporin antibiotics can affect the intestinal environment, it is crucial to strictly adhere to the prescribed dosage and administration. Proper use allows for effective treatment of infections while also taking care to protect the intestinal environment.
Macrolide antibiotics
Macrolide antibiotics are important drugs used to treat infections by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. This class includes erythromycin and azithromycin, which are particularly effective against respiratory and skin infections.
The advantages of macrolides include fewer required doses and relatively fewer side effects. This can help improve patient medication adherence. Additionally, their broad antimicrobial spectrum, making them effective against many bacteria, is another appealing feature.
However, the impact of macrolide antibiotics on the intestinal environment cannot be ignored. During use, it is crucial to follow the prescribed dosage and frequency, as there is a particular risk of disrupting the intestinal flora. To help protect the intestinal environment, consuming foods containing probiotics after taking the medication is also recommended.
Quinolone antibiotics
Quinolone antibiotics are potent antimicrobial agents primarily used to treat bacterial infections. Representative examples include ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. The main characteristic of these drugs is their ability to inhibit bacterial DNA synthesis, thereby suppressing bacterial proliferation.
Quinolone antibiotics are expected to be effective against various infections, such as urinary tract infections and respiratory infections. However, they also carry a number of side effects. In particular, their impact on the intestinal environment has been noted, raising concerns about disrupting the balance of the gut flora.
Therefore, when using quinolone antibiotics, it is crucial to follow the doctor’s instructions and adhere strictly to the prescribed dosage and administration. Additionally, consuming foods containing probiotics can be effective in maintaining gut health. This approach helps maximize the antibiotic’s effectiveness while protecting intestinal health.
The Effects of Antibiotics on the Gut Microbiome
The effects of antibiotics on the gut environment are extremely diverse. While antibiotics are used to target specific bacteria, unfortunately, they are also known to adversely affect beneficial bacteria in the gut.
First, antibiotic use can reduce beneficial bacteria in the gut and allow harmful bacteria to proliferate. Furthermore, the impact of antibiotics is not merely temporary; it can reduce the diversity of the gut environment, potentially leading to adverse health effects in the long term.
Effects on the Gut Microbiome
The impact on the gut microbiome is a significant concern associated with antibiotic use. The gut microbiome refers to the diverse collection of bacteria inhabiting the intestines, playing a major role in maintaining health. While antibiotics effectively eliminate specific pathogenic bacteria, they simultaneously affect beneficial gut bacteria. This can disrupt the intestinal ecosystem, potentially impairing digestive and absorptive functions.
Furthermore, an imbalance in the gut microbiome can also affect immune function. A decrease in beneficial bacteria can lead to an increase in harmful bacteria, potentially making individuals more susceptible to infections. Additionally, it has been noted that a loss of diversity in the gut microbiome can increase various health risks. To prevent this, it is extremely important to consider dietary changes and supplements that aid in the recovery of the gut flora after antibiotic use.
The Emergence of Drug-Resistant Bacteria and Its Problems
The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has become a major issue in antibiotic use. While antibiotics are effective against bacteria, when used improperly, bacteria can survive and develop resistance. These resistant bacteria are difficult to treat because conventional antibiotics are ineffective, potentially threatening patient health during infection treatment.
Resistant bacteria have a particularly severe impact on hospitalized patients and those with weakened immune systems. This leads to increased burdens in healthcare settings, such as longer hospital stays and higher treatment costs.
Therefore, preventing the emergence of resistant bacteria requires the proper use of antibiotics and rigorous infection control measures. It is crucial for healthcare professionals and the general public to work together to address this issue in order to protect health in the future.
Methods to minimize the impact
To minimize the impact of antibiotic use on your gut environment, there are several approaches. First, strictly follow your doctor’s instructions when taking antibiotics. The fundamental principle is to avoid taking them for longer than necessary. This helps prevent significant disruption to the balance of your gut microbiota.
Next, consuming foods rich in probiotics and prebiotics during and after antibiotic treatment is effective. Fermented foods like yogurt and natto help beneficial bacteria proliferate and improve gut health.
Finally, review your overall diet. Consuming vegetables and fruits rich in dietary fiber provides nutrients for gut microbes and contributes to a healthy gut flora. Implementing these measures can mitigate the effects of antibiotics and help maintain a healthy gut environment.
Antibiotic Use and Its Risks
Considering antibiotic use and its risks is critically important for our health. While antibiotics are essential for treating infections, they are often used indiscriminately. Particularly, self-medication and discontinuing prescribed antibiotics prematurely are factors that increase risks.
Furthermore, antibiotics also attack beneficial bacteria in the gut. This can disrupt the intestinal environment, potentially leading to various health issues such as weakened immunity and recurrent infections. Furthermore, the overuse of antibiotics contributes to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, making future treatments more difficult.
Therefore, when using antibiotics, it is essential to consult thoroughly with your doctor and strive to use them only when absolutely necessary. To protect your own health, it is crucial to have accurate information and act with caution.
Antimicrobial Risk During Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
The gut microbiota is gaining attention as a powerful means to improve the intestinal environment. However, the use of antibiotics in this process carries risks.
When performing microbiota transplantation, the microbiota is typically collected from a donor and transplanted. Before this, antibiotics may be prescribed to prepare the patient’s intestinal environment. This reduces the old microbiota, making it easier for the transplanted beneficial bacteria to colonize. However, caution is necessary with this approach.
Antibiotic use carries risks, such as the transplanted bacteria failing to establish sufficiently or the gut microbiome balance becoming disrupted. Therefore, the appropriate selection of antibiotics and the duration of their use are critical. Alternatively, antibiotic-free gut microbiota transplantation (patent obtained) has been developed in recent years and is gaining attention.
Understanding the risks of antibiotics during gut microbiota transplantation and taking appropriate measures under expert guidance are essential for protecting your health.
Other Precautions for Use
There are several other points to note when using antibiotics. First, it is essential to take antibiotics correctly according to your doctor’s instructions. Avoid self-medicating or stopping treatment prematurely just because your symptoms improve.
Additionally, care must be taken regarding food and drink combinations. Certain antibiotics can interact with food or beverages, reducing their effectiveness. Particular caution is needed when taking them with dairy products or alcohol.
Furthermore, it is crucial to consult your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual symptoms while taking antibiotics. Side effects or allergic reactions can occur, so you should be sensitive to changes in your physical condition. By keeping these points in mind and using antibiotics correctly, you can reduce health risks.
Recovery from Impact and Preventive Measures
Considering recovery from the effects and preventive measures is crucial for protecting gut health. When antibiotic use disrupts the balance of the gut microbiome, recovery can take time. This is because antibiotics reduce not only harmful bacteria but also beneficial bacteria, significantly diminishing microbial diversity in the gut. Here are four examples of antibiotic effects.
Case 1: Tonsillitis
A woman in her 30s suffered from constipation and abdominal bloating for over a month after taking antibiotics for tonsillitis for one week. However, she gradually improved by actively incorporating fermented foods (such as pickles and kimchi) into her diet and taking prebiotic supplements.
Case 2: Influenza
In one case, a man in his 50s was given strong antibiotics to treat complications from influenza, and immediately afterward, he began experiencing persistent diarrhea. After that, under the guidance of a doctor, he started taking a combination of probiotics and water-soluble dietary fiber (such as psyllium powder), and his stool returned to normal in about two weeks.
Case 3: Clostridioides difficile
In the case of a woman in her 40s, after multiple antibiotic treatments, the balance of her gut microbiota became chronically imbalanced, leading to an overgrowth of the pathogenic bacterium Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), which caused severe diarrhea and dehydration. She subsequently experienced repeated relapses, leading to treatment with gut microbiota transplantation (FMT).
Click here for antibiotic-free gut microbiota transplantation
Case 4: Unbalanced eating habits
A man in his 20s complained of loss of appetite and intestinal problems after taking antibiotics, but did not change his diet to improve his condition. As a result of continuing to eat a fast food-based diet, he developed chronic abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements over the course of several months, and his condition has not improved to this day.
As you can see, once the intestinal environment is disturbed, it takes several months for it to return to normal, and unless you change your lifestyle and diet, there is a risk that symptoms will persist or worsen. This is why it is so important not to use antibiotics indiscriminately as a preventative measure, and when using them, to also take measures to protect the intestines.
Summary
Antibiotics are an important means of treating bacterial infections, but their use can have a negative impact on the intestinal environment. This can be particularly problematic as they can reduce beneficial bacteria and disrupt the intestinal environment.
A healthy intestinal environment contributes to digestion and immune function, and maintaining this balance is essential. When using antibiotics, consult with your doctor and be sure to use them appropriately. It is also recommended to consciously consume foods containing probiotics after taking antibiotics to help restore the intestinal environment.
Ultimately, maintaining good health comes from knowing how to balance the effective use of antibiotics with a healthy intestinal environment. By taking careful steps, you can maintain better health.
The Gut Flora Transplantation Clinical Research Group has already performed over 690 cases of “gut flora transplantation,” a new procedure that does not require antibiotics and places less strain on patients. We also offer intestinal flora testing to determine your own intestinal flora. If you are interested in learning about the current state of your intestinal flora or how to improve your intestinal environment, please feel free to contact your local clinic.
References
- Anthony WE, Wang B, Sukhum KV, et al. Acute and persistent effects of commonly used antibiotics on the gut microbiome and resistome in healthy adults. Cell Rep. 2022;39(2):110649. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110649
- Dethlefsen L, Relman DA. Incomplete recovery and individualized responses of the human distal gut microbiota to repeated antibiotic perturbation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(Suppl 1):4554-4561. doi:10.1073/pnas.1000087107
- Goodman C, Keating G, Georgousopoulou E, et al. Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2021;11(8):e043054. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043054
- Wastyk HC, Fragiadakis GK, Perelman D, et al. Gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status. Cell. 2021;184(16):4137-4153.e14. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.019
- Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet. 2022;399(10325):629-655. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0
- van Nood E, Vrieze A, Nieuwdorp M, et al. Duodenal infusion of donor feces for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(5):407-415. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1205037
Supervisor: Dr. Hideaki Shima, Ph.D. in Agriculture (Symbiotics Co., Ltd.)
Release date: June 17, 2025
