b'Drugs and the MicrobiomeHEALTH BITS & PIECES Inamulti-drugmeta-analysis,re-By Dan Kenner, Ph.D., LAc searchersidentifiedthreecategoriesof Neither Health Freedom News nor I are suggestingmedications that have a significant impact that any such medical care or treatment on the human gut microbiome. Among be conducted without competent several categories of widely used drugs medical advice and supervision. investigated, the usage of proton pump inhibitors(PPIsmedicationsusedto reduce the production of stomach acid), laxatives, and antibiotics had the largest effect on the gut microbiome composition. Laxatives and PPIs have a direct impact on the intestine, while antibiotics directly target the intestinal microbiome by inhib-iting bacterial growth. PPIs do change the gastrointestinal pH, which in turn inhibits certain types of commensal bacteria. PPIs effects on the composition of the gut microbiome can also exacerbate small intestine injury from non-steroidal anti-in-flammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Researchers reported that PPI users had a significant-ly lower quantity of gut commensals and lowergutmicrobialdiversity.Astudy examining the relationship between PPIs andNSAID-inducedsmallintestinein-juryreportedthatPPIsincreasedthe incidence and severity of intestinal dam-age induced by NSAIDs, contributing to chronic inflammation in the gut.Seaweed and Health blood glucose levels, and caused animals Marine algae, popularly known as sea- fed seaweed to lose weight, including weeds, are among the most mineral-richabdominal fat.and generally nutrient-dense foods on theSeaweeds contain a large quantity of planet. Popular seaweeds include norifiber as wellup to 75%. Fiber is useful (familiar in sushi rolls), wakame, kombu,as a prebiotic to feed probiotic friendly arame, dulse, and kelp, all widely usedbacteria and promote a healthy micro- Vila A, Collij V, Sanna S, et al., Impact of com-in Japanese cooking. Numerous studiesbiome. The fiber in seaweed has beenmonly used drugs on the composition and metabolic back their health benefits and their oftenshowninanimalstudiestoincreasefunction of the gut microbiota, Nature Commu-mild, yet distinct, taste makes them a per- healthy bacteria in the gut. nications 2020, 11: 362, doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-14177-z; Takagi T, Naito Y, Inoue R, et al., The fect addition to various dishes like soups,influence of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors salads,stews,pasta,blendeddrinksHowarth N, Saltzman E, Roberts S, Dietary fiberon the gut microbiota: an age-sex-matched case-con-or juices, and even eaten on their own.and weight regulation, Nutrition Reviews 2001,trolstudy,JournalofClinicalBiochemistry Green and brown sea plants contain cal- 59(5): 129-139, doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2001. and Nutrition 2018, 62(1): 100-105, doi: 10.3164/tb07001.x;MaedaH,HosokawaM,Sashimajcbn.17-78; Marlicz W, Loniewski I, Grimes D, et cium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, andT,etal.,Fucoxanthinfromedibleseaweed,al., Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, proton Vitamin A, along with antioxidants likeUndariapinnatifida,showsantiobesityeffectpump inhibitors, and gastrointestinal injury: con-fucoidan and fucoxanthin, which studiesthrough UCP1 expression in white adipose tissues,trasting interactions in the stomach and small in-have shown help to burn fat.BiochemicalandBiophysicalResearchtestine, Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2014, 89(12): Communications 2005, 332(2): 392-397, doi:1699-1709,doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.07.015; Brown seaweeds like wakame are un- 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.05.002; Woo M, Jeon S, KimWallace J, Syer S, Denou E, et al., Proton pump usually good sources of the antioxidantH, et al., Fucoxanthin supplementation improvesinhibitors exacerbate NSAID-induced small intesti-fucoxanthin. Antioxidants prevent dam- plasma and hepatic lipid metabolism and bloodnal injury by inducing dysbiosis, Gastroenterol-age from free radicals, which can harmglucose concentration in high-fat fed C57BL/6Nogy 2011, 141(4): 1314-1322, 1322.e1-e5; Fujimori S, What are the effects of proton pump inhibitors our cells. Fucoxanthin neutralizes freemice, Chemico-Biological Interactions 2010,on the small intestine? World Journal of Gastro-radicals at more than 13 times the rate186(3): 316-322, doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2010.05.006;enterology 2015, 21(22): 6817-6819, doi: 10.3748/of Vitamin E. Evidence also suggests fu- OSullivan L, Murphy B, McLoughlin P, et al.,wjg.v21.i22.6817; Jackson M, Goodrich J, Maxan M, Prebiotics from Marine Macroalgae for Humanet al., Proton pump inhibitors alter the composition coxanthin helps with weight loss. In ani- and Animal Health Applications, Marine Drugsof the gut microbiota, Gut 2016, 65(5): 749-756, mal studies with mice, it helped control2010, 8(7): 2038-2064, doi: 10.3390/md8072038. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310861.10 H ealtHF reedomN ews /s ummer2021'