Exploring microbiota recovery with probiotics following antibiotic use

Probiotics may not be able to restore the gut microbiota composition following antibiotic treatment.

In a comprehensive review published in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, investigators analyzed the data of more than 16,000 children and adults who received antibiotics with or without probiotics.

The investigators found that despite reducing antibiotic-related adverse effects, such as Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, the probiotics were not affective at restoring the gut microbiome to its pre-antibiotic state.

However, the results were inconsistent across the studies included in the review. The investigators noted several factors affecting gut microbiome restoration research — including a lack of consensus on the definition of normal microbiota, nonstandardized measurement techniques, substantial interindividual variability and technical limitations in current testing approaches. As a result, further studies are needed to determine the full effects and mechanisms of probiotics.

The findings highlighted the complexity of gut microbiota composition restoration and could inform future probiotic development.

Read more: Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology

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