Greek research: Risk of a lot of antibiotics in childhood

Research by Greek scientists has revealed that children and teenagers who are… at a young age took often antibiotics may develop diabetes in adolescence.
Specifically the kids and teens that young had often antibiotics, may disrupt the microbial ecosystem of the intestine, which increases the likelihood of developing prediabetes in teens.
The new little Greek scientific research, led by Chariklia Stefanakis, research associate, University of Athens, made the announcement at the annual conference of the American End Company in Boston.
The study was carried out in ten adolescents with prediabetes, and -for comparison – in 14 young people without a similar problem. All were 12 to 17 years, boys and girls.
Adolescents with prediabetes had taken antibiotics more than three times per year by the age of three years. Teenagers without prediabetes were getting a lot less antibiotics in their childhood.
The scientists analyzed stool samples from all participants. The study showed that young people with prediabetes had fewer “good” bacteria. The frequent use of antibiotics in the past had changed the microbial communities of the intestine, thereby facilitating the emergence of prediabetes.
“The increased consumption of antibiotics up to the age of three years appears to reduce the beneficial intestinal microbes and thereby alter the absorption of nutrients and metabolism. This can lead to prediabetes, a pre-stage high-risk for type-2 diabetes,” said Stefanakis.
“The antibiotics should be given only when really indicated anything like that. The microbes of the intestine is a sensitive organ that is often neglected by the medical community, although it produces vitamins, hormones and micronutrients, interacts with the nervous system of the intestine and affect the immune reaction of the latter,” he added.
The researchers stressed that probiotics and prebiotics can help in restoring the microbial balance of the intestine after antibiotics, therefore helping to not appear προδιαβήτης.
THE X. Stefanakis is a graduate of the Medical School of Athens University and of the graduate program “Control of stress and promote health”. Is a research associate of the Special Centre for Adolescent Medicine (E.K.E.I.) the A’ Pediatric Clinic of Athens University since 2012. The research work concerns the physiology of stress, in diabetes, in disorders of the small intestine and colon, and in the human microbiome. Collaborates, also, with the Unit of Applied Endocrinology, Medical School of Athens, where he is currently a phd candidate.