In our society, people are encouraged to use doctor prescribed medication to cure them or treat symptoms of the disease. Thanks to modern medicine, we have made advances towards keeping people healthier and help them live longer. But even life-saving medications such as antibiotics can come with risks, especially for those most vulnerable, like children. Research warns that antibiotics should be used and prescribed with care.
Antibiotics And Asthma
A study conducted by the University of Helsinki discovered that the use of antibiotics in young children could alter the populations of their gut microbes. This actually leaves children with a greater chance of being overweight and developing asthma later on in their childhood years.
The study took 236 children between the ages of two and seven, with an average age of five. This study brought more evidence to light on a previous study done on mice and children showing the negative consequences of early antibiotic use.In western countries, antibiotics are the most commonly used drugs given to children.
The researchers from the University of Helsinki stated that the use of antibiotics is linked to a long-lasting change in the microbiota – clusters of bacteria from different parts of the body – and their metabolism.
Humans have huge populations of microbes that live on the skin and in our gut. We carry around 100 trillion bacteria; they outnumber humans cells 10 to 1. But unlike other bacteria, these have been proven to be crucial for our wellbeing.
The study, published in Nature Communications stated,
“Among the children who received macrolides (a class of antibiotic) in early life, we find a positive correlation between overall lifetime antibiotic use and body mass index (BMI), as well as an increased risk of asthma, suggesting that macrolide use may alter the microbiota in infants in a way that predisposes to antibiotic-associated weight gain and asthma in later childhood.”
The previous study done on mice suggested that antibiotics are not directly responsible for unnatural weight gain later on in life. Those antibiotics actually wiped out certain types of bacteria but left others alone.
This change in the composition of the microbiome had a long-term impact on metabolism that persisted even when the population of gut microbes had returned to normal several weeks later.
The Finnish researchers said their results confirm corresponding patterns in human children:
“The children with the heavy early-life use of antibiotics but no antibiotics for at least two years before sample donation had a microbiota similar with those with low lifetime antibiotic use.
Nevertheless, early life use of macrolides predisposed to overweight and asthma. These results suggest that even transient microbiome disturbance at the beginning of life may have long-term effects on the metabolic and immunological health of the child.”
As for the link to asthma, the study suggests that the macrolide – a class of antibiotic – alters the microbiota in such a way that it disrupts healthy immune systems. This parallels international studies that have also found a link between asthma and early antibiotic use.
“Our results confirm and extend previous results from mouse experiments and indicate that macrolide use may have undesired effects on the developing microbiota of children, which may compromise the development of a healthy immune system and metabolism.”
Disclaimer: Before you make a decision to use antibiotics or not, consult with your healthcare provider.
