Antibiotics damage gut barrier, increasing risk of inflammatory bowel disease
Antibiotic medicines used to treat common bacterial infections may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, Israeli scientists warned, releasing a study on Thursday that could reshape how doctors use antibiotics, while opening a door to new therapies for treating the chronic gastrointestinal condition.
IBD is characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that affects around 1% of the world’s population. The two main types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms can include abdominal pain and cramping, chronic diarrhea — sometimes with blood — weight loss, fatigue and reduced appetite.
A new study from Dr. Shai Bel and his team at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, published in the peer-reviewed Science Advances journal, discovered that antibiotics damage the protective mucus layer in the intestine. The mucus layer is a crucial barrier that separates the gut microbiome from the immune system.
“This challenges the long-held belief that antibiotics only harm bacteria. They also affect our own cells,” said Bel. This insight underscores the need for more cautious antibiotic practices to avoid unintended consequences for gut health.
Erosion of the mucus layer facilitates bacterial penetration, triggering inflammation. While antibiotics have previously been linked to IBD, this study provides a deeper understanding of how they affect the gut environment.
“We found that antibiotics disrupt the cells responsible for mucus secretion, not just the bacteria in the microbiome,” said Bel.
The research revealed that this disruption allows harmful bacteria to infiltrate the intestinal walls, causing systemic bacterial replication and ulcer formation — key symptoms of IBD.
The findings may lead to new, targeted treatments for IBD that focus on protecting or restoring the mucus barrier. Doctors could prescribe medications that enhance mucus production or develop therapies to repair damage caused by antibiotics, potentially reducing IBD flare-ups or even preventing the disease in at-risk individuals.
Moreover, the study could drive changes in how antibiotics are prescribed. The findings suggest that medical professionals might reconsider antibiotic use in certain populations, especially those prone to IBD or other gut-related issues.
Additionally, this research could lead to preventive therapies. For patients who must take antibiotics. For example, doctors could administer protective agents alongside the drugs to preserve the gut’s mucus layer, potentially preventing the onset of IBD.
Bel’s team now plans to explore treatments that counteract the adverse effects of antibiotics.
