Some of the most common medications taken by tens of millions of Americans leave a lasting impact on the body long after a person stops taking them, according to new research.
Beta-blockers, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and heart conditions, were linked to changes in gut bacteria that were detectable even when people had stopped taking them several years earlier, according to a new study by Estonian researchers.
The same held true for anti-anxiety medications, part of the benzodiazepine class, including Xanax and Valium. Antidepressants had similar carryover effects, as did proton pump inhibitors, medications millions take for acid reflux and heartburn.
The microbiome is the body’s collection of beneficial bacteria. Its health relies on a diverse population of bacteria to fight disease, absorb nutrients and regulate immune and metabolic systems. It is influenced by everything from diet and lifestyle to the medications a person takes, including common prescription drugs.
The new study confirmed that commonly prescribed medications, ranging from antibiotics to antidepressants, consistently reduce the diversity of gut bacteria, sometimes for years.
A less diverse microbiome is linked to a weaker gut barrier, chronic inflammation and a compromised immune system. This state of imbalance, known as dysbiosis, creates a state of chronic inflammation and weakened immune defense that is a recognized breeding ground for cancer development, specifically, colorectal cancer.
Dysbiosis creates a gut environment dominated by cancer-promoting bacteria, which can trigger tumor growth by stimulating blood vessel formation, uncontrolled cell division and the evasion of cell death.
To investigate the long-term effects of medications on gut bacteria, an Estonian study genetically analyzed stool samples from 2,509 adults.
Colonoscopies also disrupt the gut biome. The linked article has a graph showing the absolute rate of colon cancer in people under fifty is less than six per 100,000. Beware of click-bait stories about the relative rate almost doubling over the past 20 years. ABN
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