Researchers from Oregon State University studied the effects of four antibiotics that are frequently given to lab animals.
“Prior to this most people thought antibiotics only depleted microbiota and diminished several important immune functions that take place in the gut,” said Andriy Morgun, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy. “Actually that’s only about one-third of the picture. They also kill intestinal epithelium. Destruction of the intestinal epithelium is important because this is the site of nutrient absorption, part of our immune system and it has other biological functions that play a role in human health.”
Overall, the OSU researchers found that powerful long-term use of antibiotics can have more far-reaching effects on human health than previously thought. Their findings were published online in the journal Gut.
More articles on antibiotic use:
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