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Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

arstechnica.com

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Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#21

Post by Natsu »

mangeletti wrote: post #20
Natsu wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right. I think there was a startup on here that had done a clinical study of some formula of theirs with many specific microbes. In my case, I used a probiotic that contains only Lactobacillus GG (15B cells) and saw improvement after a course of antibiotics. My doctor recommended that when I asked, but said that it wasn't a prescription, just that he'd heard good reports from his patients. For myself, I took t…

If anyone knows the name of that startup, please do tell.

Searching suggests it might be this story:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8456128

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#22

Post by CuriouslyC »

justboxing wrote: post #7

Ask HN: Any proven natural (without meds) ways to "reset" and restore gut flora? Context: I grew up in India and to this day, there is a tendancy by Doctors to prescribe Antibiotics for anything, even cold viruses and non-bacterial illnesses. Erythromycin is 1 such antibiotic that Indian doctors prescribe for things such as the common cold, cough and similar seasonal illnesses. Due to this, I've developed a lot of fo…

It isn't possible to do a "full" reset without antibiotics (and even then it isn't 100% complete). The next best thing you can do is fasting. Fasting greatly restricts the food supply to the microbes in your gut (gut mucus production still feeds them to a degree), causing a fairly large die-off and shift in bacterial equilibrium. Anywhere between 4 and 7 days is a good target, and it doesn't have to be a strict fast, a little fruit juice or tea is fine.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#23

Post by suneilp »

justboxing wrote: post #7

Ask HN: Any proven natural (without meds) ways to "reset" and restore gut flora? Context: I grew up in India and to this day, there is a tendancy by Doctors to prescribe Antibiotics for anything, even cold viruses and non-bacterial illnesses. Erythromycin is 1 such antibiotic that Indian doctors prescribe for things such as the common cold, cough and similar seasonal illnesses. Due to this, I've developed a lot of fo…

Monolaurin is a natural antibiotic. It's on the GRAS (generally regarded as safe) list. My doctor suggested it to me. It won't impact healthy bacteria. It's found in coconuts (oil being the best source) and human breast milk... in other words it's one of the first things we have all consumed. It's OTC.

Ordinary probiotics such as the powdery capsules that is so prevalent aren't the most effective. They don't get retained as well. Liquid ones will stick to the small intestinal walls more easily. I implemented my own hack by eating something that is mucilaginous which sticks to the intestines. Then I take a capsule shortly afterwards. Seems to work well... for me.

This protocol worked for me after I hosed my gut microbiome which caused me to lose 80 lbs in 2 months. Take of it as you will.

Exercise is critically important, when you digestion is in turmoil as peristalsis likely gets impacted, at least it did for me. Peristalsis is the undulation of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines which pushes food forward. Exercise restarts this if it isn't functioning correctly.

It's important for keeping the healthy bacteria in the large intestines out of the small intestines. You don't want to cross the streams in this case as it can be very painful and even debilitating.

That's my recipe for a holistic reset and restoration of floral balance.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#24

Post by DanBC »

justboxing wrote: post #7

Ask HN: Any proven natural (without meds) ways to "reset" and restore gut flora? Context: I grew up in India and to this day, there is a tendancy by Doctors to prescribe Antibiotics for anything, even cold viruses and non-bacterial illnesses. Erythromycin is 1 such antibiotic that Indian doctors prescribe for things such as the common cold, cough and similar seasonal illnesses. Due to this, I've developed a lot of fo…

Eat fibre.

> I've developed a lot of food allergies

Really?

EDIT: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fiber-famished-gut...

>Your gut is the site of constant turf wars. Hundreds of bacterial species—along with fungi, archaea and viruses—do battle daily, competing for resources. Some companies advocate for consuming more probiotics, live beneficial bacteria, to improve microbial communities in our gut, but more and more research supports the idea that the most powerful approach might be to better feed the good bacteria we already harbor. Their meal of choice? Fiber.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120628131358.ht...

> A University of Illinois study shows that dietary fiber promotes a shift in the gut toward different types of beneficial bacteria. And the microbes that live in the gut, scientists now believe, can support a healthy gastrointestinal tract as well as affect our susceptibility to conditions as varied as type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

> As these microbes ferment fiber in the intestine, short-chain fatty acids and other metabolites are produced, resulting in many health benefits for the host, said Kelly Swanson, a U of I professor of animal sciences.

http://press.psprings.co.uk/gut/june/gut308778.pdf

http://time.com/3936636/diet-gut-bacteria/

> The good news is that your initial Akkermansia levels are not your fate. People who started out with lower stores of Akkermansia had more after they followed the fiber-rich calorie-restricted diet. You can increase these bacterial populations by eating fiber, Cani’s research suggests, which acts as a prebiotic in the gut and has a beneficial effect on some bacteria.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#25

Post by Cheyana »

Jack000 wrote: post #5
tghw wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My father ended up on months-long rounds of antibiotics and started taking probiotics as a result. He also said it helped some similar digestive problems he's had for years.

Is there a difference between prescription probiotics vs say probiotic yogurt or over the counter supplements? I've also had digestive problems for years that may have been the result of antibiotics.

Honestly, I don't think probiotic yogurt really contains as much of the bacteria as you would need to affect your system. I bought two 4-packs of that stuff and ate them over the course of a week as a replacement for the over the counter stuff, just to see if it would help. No effect whatsoever. Went back to the over the counter stuff (Udo's Choice, which is expensive, refrigerated stuff from Whole Foods) and I was right again. Though I have to say, probiotic with 102 billion cells might be pushing it for most. Flora-wise, I felt like I had a whole rainforest coming out of my ass, but it wasn't really a bad experience. It fixed my burning diarrhea after my run of antibiotics.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#26

Post by refurb »

I think saying that antibiotics "mess up" your gut microbiome is making a lot of assumptions. Your biome changes if your diet changes. Saying that "any change" is "messing things up" is something I don't think has been proven.

Of course, there are risks of using antibiotic like C. difficile infections, but saying more than that is stretching the truth.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#27

Post by Cheyana »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #9
justboxing wrote: post #7

Ask HN: Any proven natural (without meds) ways to "reset" and restore gut flora? Context: I grew up in India and to this day, there is a tendancy by Doctors to prescribe Antibiotics for anything, even cold viruses and non-bacterial illnesses. Erythromycin is 1 such antibiotic that Indian doctors prescribe for things such as the common cold, cough and similar seasonal illnesses. Due to this, I've developed a lot of fo…

Fecal transplants seem to have a high success rate of fixing some gut health issues[1]. I've never tried one, though. I take probiotics on a daily basis, but research is much more scant for them[2]. That said, I notice a marked difference when I stop taking them for a few days. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_bacteriotherapy [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic#Research

Fecal transplants for the win, with my friend's mother-in-law. She had one a few weeks ago after suffering with digestive issues for a while and she's been great ever since.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#28

Post by Natsu »

Duhck wrote: post #6
Natsu wrote: post #2

I simply took a probiotic after being on antibiotics for a couple months and it had a side effect of curing a lot of digestive problems I used to have. So there's that, too. Incidentally, my doctor was the one who advised this. EDIT: The probiotic in my case was capsules of 15B cells of Lactobasillus GG. Marketing copy on the box suggests this is the "most clinically studied probiotic strain" but I'm not able to veri…

I actually have had similar problems. In the past when I take antibiotics it fixes my GI problems.

That is interesting. In my case, I was on two courses of antibiotics (a 7-day course and a 10-day course) during which I did not see improvement or use probiotics.

It's only when I started the 30-day course that my doctor told me about probiotics. I started the probiotics at the same time as the 30-day course and saw immediate improvement.

Perhaps my problems were caused by a lack of beneficial bacteria while your troubles were caused by some type of infection? Or maybe it was only the 3rd antibiotic that cleared something out of my system?

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#29

Post by hasenj »

justboxing wrote: post #7

Ask HN: Any proven natural (without meds) ways to "reset" and restore gut flora? Context: I grew up in India and to this day, there is a tendancy by Doctors to prescribe Antibiotics for anything, even cold viruses and non-bacterial illnesses. Erythromycin is 1 such antibiotic that Indian doctors prescribe for things such as the common cold, cough and similar seasonal illnesses. Due to this, I've developed a lot of fo…

Probiotic pills?

Also, yogurt, which as far as I'm concerned is the same as a probiotic pill, but less controlled.

Re: Single course of antibiotics can mess up the gut microbiome for a year

#30

Post by evo_9 »

Natsu wrote: post #2

I simply took a probiotic after being on antibiotics for a couple months and it had a side effect of curing a lot of digestive problems I used to have. So there's that, too. Incidentally, my doctor was the one who advised this. EDIT: The probiotic in my case was capsules of 15B cells of Lactobasillus GG. Marketing copy on the box suggests this is the "most clinically studied probiotic strain" but I'm not able to veri…

For about 15 years I have been having a stonyfield organic smoothie for breakfast and within the first month all my random digestive issues cleared up. Other than an occasional stomach bug or bad meal - both pretty rare for me these days - I've had no issues since.

http://www.stonyfield.com/products/yogurt/smoothies/strawber...

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