7 medications that alter your gut bacteria for years after you stop

Some drugs continue disrupting the gut microbiome for years after stopping, with benzodiazepines showing the greatest impact.

 

Common prescriptions leave lasting changes in your gut — and it's not just antibiotics Doctors have long known that antibiotics disrupt gut bacteria. Now, researchers analyzing data from 2,509 Estonian adults have discovered that 6 other medication classes also alter the gut microbiome, with effects persisting for years after discontinuation. The study found that benzodiazepines had the greatest negative impact. Within this drug class, the differences were striking: Alprazolam (Xanax) disrupted the microbiome far more broadly than diazepam (Valium). The implications matter because microbiome disruption is linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders. A healthy microbiome is a stable community with high diversity of microorganisms and high microbial gene richness that lives in balance with its human host. "Even within the same class of drugs, individual medications can affect the microbiome in very different ways," explained Dr. Elin Org, head of the Microbiome Research Group at University of Tartu in Estonia, who co-authored the study. "If two drugs work equally well, doctors may opt for the one that has a smaller impact on the gut microbiome." Of the 186 drugs analyzed in this study, 167 affected the microbiome in some way, with 78 showing long-term effects. The longer people took medications and the more medications they combined, the greater the disruption. To see which medications affect the microbiome most, and what you can do to protect gut health while on prescription drugs, jump to "Antibiotics and 6 other medications linked to disrupted gut microbiome." Also making headlines this week: 🚶 Just 3,000 daily steps may delay cognitive decline by 3 years 👁️ Blood vessels in your eyes reveal heart disease risk and biological age 🫐 Flavanols in cocoa and berries counteract damage from prolonged sitting We love to hear from you, so please email us if you have any feedback, comments, or questions about this weekend's Sunday Supplement. Stay informed and stay healthy! Tim Snaith Newsletter Editor, Medical News Today

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In case you missed it Flavanols in cocoa, berries may improve blood flow in sedentary people   Researchers from the University of Birmingham have found that flavanols, which are found in cocoa, tea, and berries, may help counteract the effects of prolonged sitting. Read on   Blood vessels in eyes may help predict heart disease and biological aging risk   Scientists have found that they may be able to use the retina's blood vessels to help predict a person's heart disease risk and see how fast they are biologically aging. Read on   AHA's 'Life's Essential 8' may reduce dementia risk in type 2 diabetes   People with type 2 diabetes who achieve optimal heart health by following the American Heart Association's 'Life's Essential 8' guidelines may have a lower risk of dementia. Read on   Only 3,000 steps a day may help lower Alzheimer's disease risk   Older adults who walked 3,000 to 5,000 steps per day delayed cognitive decline by an average of three years, according to a study on lowering Alzheimer's disease risk. Read on   New nanotechnology drug reduces amyloid-beta in mice brains by 50-60%   Scientists used a new nanotechnology strategy to reverse Alzheimer's disease in mice by helping reduce amyloid-beta in the brain by 50-60%. Read on   MORE HEALTH NEWS

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