According to a new study, deficiencies in micronutrients such as vitamin A or B12 lead to changes in the intestinal microbiota that promote resistance to antibiotics.
- Antibiotic resistance is responsible for 700,000 deaths per year, including 25,000 in Europe.
- A new study shows that micronutrient deficiencies led to significant changes in the gut microbiota, promoting antibiotic resistance.
- For researchers, actions should be implemented against malnutrition to combat the increase in antibiotic resistance.
According to’InsermL’antibiotic resistance would be responsible for 700,000 deaths per year of which 25,000 in Europe. But researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine have found a new possible driver of this worrying public health problem: micronutrient deficiencies.
Resistance with antibiotics: micronutrient deficiencies and the microbiota involved
By studying the role of micronutrients such as vitamin A, B12, THE folate, iron and zinc, the team noticed that the deficiencies affected the intestinal microbiota. His experiment, conducted on mice, shows that these deficiencies led to significant changes in the intestinal microbiota, including an expansion of bacteria and fungi known to be opportunistic pathogens. Furthermore, rodents suffering from deficiencies had higher activity in genes linked to antibiotic resistance.
“Micronutrient deficiency has been an overlooked factor in discussions of global antibiotic resistance,” believes Dr. Paula Littlejohnpostdoctoral researcher in the Department of Medical Genetics and the Department of Pediatrics at theUBCand at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in a statement. “This is an important finding because it suggests that nutrient deficiencies may make the intestinal environment more conducive to the development of antibiotic resistance, which is a major global health problem.”
Fight against malnutrition to curb antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is often attributed to the overuse of antibiotics. However, this work, presented in Nature Microbiologyreveal that treating micronutrient deficiencies could also be a way to combat this phenomenon. According to the research team, taking steps to prevent and treat malnutrition, particularly in young children, is essential to combat the global scourge of antibiotic resistance.
“Globally, approximately 340 million children under the age of five suffer from multiple micronutrient deficiencies, which not only affect their growth but also significantly alter their gut microbiome”explain the dr. Littlejohn. “Our The findings are particularly concerning because these children are often prescribed antibiotics for illnesses related to malnutrition. Ironically, their gut microbiome may be primed for antibiotic resistance due to underlying micronutrient deficiencies.”
