MEDICAL INSIGHTS: Antibiotics and weight gain
The initial intent of using antibiotics was to treat infections. Many lives have been saved because of their ability to fight microbes. However, since about 1950, antibiotics have at times been used to supplement the diets of livestock to promote growth and weight gain.
Aureomycin, also known as chlortetracycline, was one of the first broad spectrum antibiotics to be used in this fashion. Low-dose antibiotics were added to the feed of animals as growth promoters.
In those early years, antibiotics were also tested in malnourished children with some initial success. It was later concluded that malnourished kids were more likely to suffer from chronic infections and eradicating the infections through the use of antibiotics promoted weight gain. Therefore, infect and malnutrition have been called synergistic contributors to substandard health.
However, a Danish study in 2011 reported that infants who received antibiotics during the first six months of life were more likely to be overweight at 7 years old compared to infants who did not receive antibiotics during the same time span. This raises the question of whether the frequent antibiotics could be partially responsible for the obesity epidemic.
Researchers have studied mice and their gut flora. In some experiments, mice are noted to gain or lose weight depending on the nature of their intestinal microbiome. In the other words, skinny mice will gain weight if their intestinal flora is altered to match that of obese mice.
The term "probiotics" was first coined in 1965 and refers to intestinal microorganisms that contribute to intestinal as well as overall health. Another description could be termed as "good bacteria." Therefore, can probiotics help you to lose weight?
In a small 2015 study, 20 healthy men who took a commercial probiotic while fed a high-fat, high-calorie diet for 4 weeks faired well compared to those not using the probiotic. Those who drank a daily milkshake containing the bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum had less body mass gain and less fat accumulation compared to the others who took a placebo.
In a similar study reported in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2011, overweight women taking a daily probiotic were more likely to lose weight compared to women taking a placebo.
What this suggests but does not prove is that probiotic supplementation may help to avoid unfavorable gut bacteria caused by overeating unhealthy foods leading to weight gain.
Probiotics such as yogurt, cheese, kefir, sour cream or commercial products are thought to aid digestion, prevent illness and now possibly help to minimize unwanted weight gain. In one 2014 study, those who ate yogurt as their main source of probiotics were noted to have lower blood pressure than non-users.
Prebiotics have been defined by others as foods that induce the growth of healthy intestinal microbes, which contribute to the well-being of the host. A partial list could include undigestible fiber or oligosaccharides, such as wheat bran, asparagus, onions, garlic and even bananas. Prebiotics help to feed and nourish favorable intestinal microorganisms found in probiotics.
Antibiotics may destroy or minimize healthy intestinal flora so don't be surprised if your doctor recommends a round of probiotics if you need to take an antibiotic. It is, therefore, also possible, maybe, to drink a probiotic milkshake and not be overly concerned about gaining weight.
It has been estimated that we humans have trillions of intestinal bacteria and maintaining the proper microbes, depends on what we eat.
David Keisler MD is a gastroenterologist and internist in Aiken.
http://www.aikenstandard.com/lifestyle/medical-insights-antibiotics-and-weight-gain/article_ec331f16-f568-11e6-99d9-f751d4fe79f1.html
Aureomycin, also known as chlortetracycline, was one of the first broad spectrum antibiotics to be used in this fashion. Low-dose antibiotics were added to the feed of animals as growth promoters.
In those early years, antibiotics were also tested in malnourished children with some initial success. It was later concluded that malnourished kids were more likely to suffer from chronic infections and eradicating the infections through the use of antibiotics promoted weight gain. Therefore, infect and malnutrition have been called synergistic contributors to substandard health.
However, a Danish study in 2011 reported that infants who received antibiotics during the first six months of life were more likely to be overweight at 7 years old compared to infants who did not receive antibiotics during the same time span. This raises the question of whether the frequent antibiotics could be partially responsible for the obesity epidemic.
Researchers have studied mice and their gut flora. In some experiments, mice are noted to gain or lose weight depending on the nature of their intestinal microbiome. In the other words, skinny mice will gain weight if their intestinal flora is altered to match that of obese mice.
The term "probiotics" was first coined in 1965 and refers to intestinal microorganisms that contribute to intestinal as well as overall health. Another description could be termed as "good bacteria." Therefore, can probiotics help you to lose weight?
In a small 2015 study, 20 healthy men who took a commercial probiotic while fed a high-fat, high-calorie diet for 4 weeks faired well compared to those not using the probiotic. Those who drank a daily milkshake containing the bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum had less body mass gain and less fat accumulation compared to the others who took a placebo.
In a similar study reported in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2011, overweight women taking a daily probiotic were more likely to lose weight compared to women taking a placebo.
What this suggests but does not prove is that probiotic supplementation may help to avoid unfavorable gut bacteria caused by overeating unhealthy foods leading to weight gain.
Probiotics such as yogurt, cheese, kefir, sour cream or commercial products are thought to aid digestion, prevent illness and now possibly help to minimize unwanted weight gain. In one 2014 study, those who ate yogurt as their main source of probiotics were noted to have lower blood pressure than non-users.
Prebiotics have been defined by others as foods that induce the growth of healthy intestinal microbes, which contribute to the well-being of the host. A partial list could include undigestible fiber or oligosaccharides, such as wheat bran, asparagus, onions, garlic and even bananas. Prebiotics help to feed and nourish favorable intestinal microorganisms found in probiotics.
Antibiotics may destroy or minimize healthy intestinal flora so don't be surprised if your doctor recommends a round of probiotics if you need to take an antibiotic. It is, therefore, also possible, maybe, to drink a probiotic milkshake and not be overly concerned about gaining weight.
It has been estimated that we humans have trillions of intestinal bacteria and maintaining the proper microbes, depends on what we eat.
David Keisler MD is a gastroenterologist and internist in Aiken.
http://www.aikenstandard.com/lifestyle/medical-insights-antibiotics-and-weight-gain/article_ec331f16-f568-11e6-99d9-f751d4fe79f1.html
