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A large study led by researchers at the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics has found that common medications can influence the gut microbiome long after a person stops taking them. The study analyzed stool samples and prescription records from over 2,500 participants in the Estonian Biobank, revealing that many medications were associated with lasting differences in gut microbiota.
The findings showed that not only antibiotics but also antidepressants, beta-blockers, acid-reducing drugs, and benzodiazepines were linked to distinctive microbial changes. Some of these effects were detectable years after the medications were discontinued. Dr. Oliver Aasmets, the lead author, noted that past drug use can be a surprisingly strong factor in explaining individual microbiome differences.
One notable finding was the impact of benzodiazepines on the gut microbiome, which was comparable to that of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The study also indicated that medications within the same drug class might not affect the microbiome in the same way, suggesting that individual drugs should be considered separately in microbiome research. Overall, the results highlight the importance of considering medication history when studying the gut microbiome.