It increases the risk of asthma.
A recent study on mice suggests that early antibiotic use may heighten the risk of asthma in children by disrupting their gut microbiota. Published in the journal Immunity, the research found that antibiotics can decrease the production of indole propionic acid (IPA), a molecule essential for long-term asthma protection.
Ben Marsland, an immunology professor at Monash University in Australia, explained that antibiotics reduce the presence of bacteria that produce IPA, leading to lower levels of this crucial biochemical. The study demonstrated that lab mice given antibiotics early in life were more susceptible to allergic reactions to dust mites, a common asthma trigger in humans. This increased susceptibility persisted even after the mice’s gut microbiome and IPA levels returned to normal, highlighting IPA’s key role in developing a healthy immune response during early life.
Further experiments showed that supplementing the mice’s diet with IPA during early life effectively prevented dust mite allergies and asthma. Marsland emphasized that antibiotic use in the first year of life could inadvertently reduce beneficial bacteria, resulting in lower IPA levels and a higher risk of allergic airway inflammation as the lungs develop.
The study stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome in children. Marsland suggested that IPA-rich dietary supplements might help prevent asthma, but he noted that human trials are needed to verify this, as results from animal studies do not always apply to humans.
Overall, the findings highlight the need for cautious antibiotic use in early childhood and suggest potential dietary interventions to support immune development and reduce asthma risk.
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