New Study Shows Long-Term Antibiotic Use May Cause Colon Polyps

A new study published in the medical journal Gut has discovered that long-term antibiotic intake may cause polyp growth in the colon. Researchers in the US noted that people who take antibiotics for two months or longer have higher risk of developing dangerous polyps later in life.

The study as reported in the Inquirer, further provides proof that antibiotic intake is associated with bowel cancer. It provides a closer look at how it can cause abnormal growths such as polyps, which are observed to be an indication of developing colon cancer.

Two Months Antibiotic Use = Higher Risk Of Colon Cancer In Women

The study looked at the medical records of female nurses under the Nurses Health Study, which involved over 120,000 nurses since 1976. Taking a look at antibiotic intake, the new study then observed the diagnosed cases of polyp growth among the nurses.

In general, the findings showed that women who took antibiotics for a total of two months or more over two decades had greater risk of developing polyps. The risk increased significantly based on the age of the women. Those in their 40s and 50s had a a 70 per cent chance of abnormal growths, while those in the 20s and 30s only had a 36 per cent chance.

Antibiotics Upset Balance Of Stomach Bacteria

While the new study does not make use of a control group in an experimental set-up, other studies show evidence on the effect of antibiotics on the possible development of cancer cells.

Antibiotics are normally used to target certain disease-causing bacteria in the body. However they also tend to upset the “natural balance of bacteria” in our gut, thus making it susceptible to other types of bacteria. Earlier studies among bowel cancer patients have shown that they commonly  have this unbalance of bacteria in their digestive system.

Further studies are needed to determine other factors that may impact on future stomach health, such as dietary intake.