Antibiotics are the go-to these days for any bacterial infection and sometimes even prescribed for viral infections (even though this does not help), but there is an impact for every pill you pop especially antibiotics. So lets dive into what impact they have and how we can mitigate this impact from a naturopath's perspective.
We all know that antibiotics kill off everything in the gut, even the beneficial bacteria. But what is less understood is there impact to our mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of our cells, is equally quite concerning.
Mitochondria are remarkable organelles within each of our cells that are responsible for producing ATP, the energy currency of the body. They also play important roles in cellular functions, such as calcium balance, detoxification, heat production, hormone synthesis, inflammation control, cell death regulation, and managing oxidative stress. So why are they susceptible to damage from antibiotics? Intriguingly, because mitochondria are thought to be of bacterial origin, which makes them particularly susceptible to antibiotics.
Researchers from the University of Cadiz, Spain, have highlighted the extensive damage that antibiotics can cause on our mitochondria. This damage is not just a theoretical concern but has real implications for our health which they outlined in their studies. This is especially important for individuals with mitochondrial vulnerabilities—like certain children with genetic predispositions—the use of some antibiotics can be especially harmful. These medications can impair the mitochondria's ability to produce energy and increase oxidative stress in the body, leading to increased inflammation, free radical damage and increase in cortisol.
When mitochondria are damaged, individuals can experience reduced energy production at the cellular level is associated with conditions such as hearing and vision loss, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes, poor growth in children/teenages, muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, autism spectrum disorder, increased infection risk, neurological problems (including seizures, migraines, and strokes), movement disorders, thyroid problems, respiratory issues, lactic acid buildup, and dementia. So wow that was not a great list and something we definitely want to be careful about. Let me explain further why this happens.
The mechanism behind this damage lies in the similarity between the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of mitochondria and bacteria. Antibiotics often target bacterial ribosomes to inhibit protein synthesis, but due to the bacterial origin of mitochondria, these organelles can also fall victim to the antibiotics as well. This leads to compromised mitochondrial function and can explain many of the side effects observed during courses of antibiotic.
For naturopaths and health professionals, understanding this connection is vital. It highlights the importance of considering mitochondrial health when recommending or prescribing antibiotics.
Additionally, supporting mitochondrial function through diet and lifestyle choices becomes crucial, especially when antibiotics are necessary. Here is a link to my article on ways to support mitochondrial health for if you need to take antibiotics and want to protect against damage: https://www.britthancockhealth.com/post/11-ways-to-improve-your-mitochondrial-health
While antibiotics are essential tools in medicine, their impact on our mitochondria highlights the need for a balanced approach. By being aware of these effects, we can better protect our cellular energy production and overall health, ensuring that we support our bodies in the most effective and holistic way possible.
If you feel like you have taken a few too many courses of antibiotics and would like some alternative treatments for health issues such as UTIs, book in for a FREE 15 minute consultation and I can outline ways in which i can help you:
Source:
Suárez-Rivero, J. M., Pastor-Maldonado, C. J., Povea-Cabello, S., Álvarez-Córdoba, M., Villalón-García, I., Talaverón-Rey, M., Suárez-Carrillo, A., Munuera-Cabeza, M., & Sánchez-Alcázar, J. A. (2021). Mitochondria and Antibiotics: For Good or for Evil?. Biomolecules, 11(7), 1050. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11071050
Patangia, D. V., Anthony Ryan, C., Dempsey, E., Paul Ross, R., & Stanton, C. (2022). Impact of antibiotics on the human microbiome and consequences for host health. MicrobiologyOpen, 11(1), e1260. https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1260
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