GMA
Sweets and sugar intake during antibiotic exposure is associated with lower microbial diversity and greater Enterococcus expansion. The human findings are observational and concern a specific hospital setting.
Diet during treatment
Diet accompanies antibiotic exposure and may help explain changes in the microbiome. Published on 30 September in Nature, the study collected dietary data from 173 patients hospitalised for haematopoietic cell transplantation. Longitudinal analysis of paired microbiome samples involved 158 patients, allowing changes to be examined over time.
The association with sweets and sugars
In this setting, sweets and sugar intake during antibiotic exposure was associated with lower microbial diversity and greater Enterococcus expansion. Mouse experiments explored a possible mechanism. The two parts of the study serve different purposes: the clinical analysis identifies an association, while experimental work helps investigate how it might arise.
From hospital observations to intervention studies
For research on gut-health ingredients and formulations, the study underlines the need to document concurrent diet, medication and clinical status. The transplant setting also limits how widely the findings can be applied. Prospective controlled studies will be needed to determine whether dietary changes reduce microbiome disruption. Any benefit from a probiotic, prebiotic or other supplement remains a separate question.
The study highlights the importance of recording diet, medication and clinical circumstances when assessing microbiome-directed interventions.
The association in patients does not establish the efficacy of dietary change or supplementation. Mouse experiments offer insight into a possible mechanism.
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Read the original source · Nature