Giving Children Antibiotics too early could be harmful: Greek Study

A Greek study has found that although unavoidable sometimes, giving antibiotics to children could change their metabolism and increase the risk of developing their pre-diabetes.

Taking antibiotics could be harmful at any age. Antibiotics kills certain good bacteria in the gut. Thus it disrupts naturally occurring gut flora. Sometimes, alongside treatment, a course of probiotics is recommended by medical professionals. The aim is to rebalance the body’s microbial ecosystem.

Dr. Charikleia Stefanaki, a Research Associate from Pediatric Endocrinology at Athens University Medical School, Greece explained that increased consumption of antibiotics up to the age of three seemed to decrease beneficial gut microbes and change nutrient absorption and metabolism. That might lead to pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is an early high-risk stage of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The researchers analyzed stool samples of 10 pre-diabetic adolescents and 14 healthy control patients. Their age was between 12 and 17. Thus the scientists established the link of taking antibiotics and diabetes.

The pre-diabetic children reported that they had taken antibiotics more than three times a year by the time they were 3 years old. Actually, they took antibiotics 8.5 times more between birth and 3 years than the healthy participants. Fewer species of Ruminococcus bacteria was found in their stool samples. Ruminococcus is one kind of bacteria which forms colonies that nourish beneficial bacteria in the gut.

The scientists suggest that the reduction of beneficial bacteria could lead to unfavorable changes in gut flora. This changes might be explained as the onset of pre-diabetes.

To reassure parents, the researchers have given some suggestions. They said that there are certain prebiotics and probiotics which could help reestablish a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. They could also reduce any risk of pre-diabetes which is linked to increased antibiotic use in early childhood.

The researchers also pointed out the importance of using antibiotics correctly. They suggest that antibiotics should be used when they are really needed. In terms of children, everybody has to be more conscious. Dr. Charikleia Stefanaki says that gut microbes produce vitamins, hormones and micronutrients are frequently neglected by the medical community. These gut microbes interact with the gut’s nervous system and influence the gut’s immune response.