Exposing a child to antibiotics too early can increase the risk of asthma by altering gut bacteria
A child’s exposure to antibiotics too early may increase their risk of asthma by altering their gut bacteria, a new study in mice suggests.
Antibiotics can specifically reduce the production of a biochemical in the gut that is important for long-term protection against asthma, the researchers reported in the July 15 journal. Immunity.
Lead researcher Ben Marsland, professor of immunology at Monash University in Australia, said: “We found that antibiotic treatment resulted in the depletion of IPA-producing bacteria, thereby reducing a key molecule that has the potential to prevent asthma.”
The findings are based on experiments in mice, which showed that mice were more susceptible to allergic reactions to dust mites after being given early antibiotics. Human asthma is usually caused by dust mite exposure.
This sensitization to dust mite allergens persisted in the mice for a long time, even when the gut microbiome was restored to normal, the researchers reported.
“Antibiotic use in the first year of life can result in a decrease in bacteria that have a positive effect on health,” Marsland said in a university press release.
Also, “infants at high risk of allergies and asthma have been shown to disrupt and delay the maturation of the gut microbiome.”