The use of antibiotics in early life may lead to a higher chance of developing asthma later on, as indicated by recent research from Monash University. The research team identified a specific molecule produced by gut bacteria that could potentially be used as a simple treatment, such as a dietary supplement, to help prevent children at risk of asthma from developing the condition.
Asthma affects more than 260 million people worldwide and results in approximately 455,000 deaths each year.
The study, led by Professor Ben Marsland and published in the journal Immunity, identified a molecule named IPA that plays a crucial role in providing long-term protection against asthma.
The discovery of this molecule produced by healthy gut bacteria helps explain why repeated use of antibiotics can raise the risk of asthma, according to Professor Marsland. He stated, “We understand that frequent antibiotic use in early life disrupts the balance of healthy gut bacteria, increasing the likelihood of allergies and asthma. We have found that one of the consequences of antibiotic treatment is the reduction of bacteria that generate IPA, ultimately decreasing a key molecule with the potential to prevent asthma.”
Professor Marsland highlighted the significance of the first years of life in establishing a stable gut microbiota. “This is influenced by factors like diet, both early milk and solid foods, genetics, and environmental factors. Studies have shown that infants at a high allergy and asthma risk often have an imbalanced and delayed development of their gut microbiome,” he explained.
“Antibiotics administered during the inaugural year of life may inadvertently reduce beneficial bacteria, and now, from our findings, we know that antibiotics result in lower IPA levels. This compound is crucial during the early stages of lung cell development, making it a potential candidate for preventing allergic airway inflammation in early life,” said Professor Marsland.
In experiments with mice predisposed to asthma, the researchers observed that administering antibiotics in early life made the mice more susceptible to allergic airway inflammation induced by house dust mites, which continued into adulthood. Asthma often originates from exposure to house dust mites.
Even after the gut microbiome and IPA levels returned to normal, the mice remained vulnerable in the long term, underlining the molecule’s vital role during early life.
By supplementing the mice’s diet with the IPA molecule early in life, the researchers successfully prevented the development of allergic airway inflammation caused by house dust mites or asthma in adulthood.
