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Medication Accumulation in Gut Bacteria May Curb Drug Effectiveness, Alter Gut Microbiome

October 05, 2021 2:06 pm

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Many common medications such as antidepressants, diabetes and asthma drugs can accumulate in gut bacteria, altering bacterial function and potentially reducing drug effectiveness, researchers say. “It was surprising that the majority of the new interactions we saw between bacteria and drugs were the drugs accumulating in the bacteria, because up until now biotransformation (chemical modification) was thought to be the only way that bacteria affect drug availability,” Dr. Kiran Patil of the MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, told Reuters Health by email. “We also were surprised to see the stark effect of bioaccumulation on bacterial metabolism and on community composition.” “There will likely be very strong differences between individuals, depending on the composition of their gut microbiota,” he noted. “We saw differences even between different strains of the same species of bacteria.” As reported in Nature, Dr. Patil and colleagues grew 25 common strains of gut bacteria and investigated their interactions with 15 structurally diverse oral drugs. The team identified 70 bacteria-drug interactions, 29 of which had not been previously reported. Seventeen of the newly discovered interactions could be ascribed to bioaccumulation – i.e., bacteria storing the drug intracellularly without chemically modifying it, and in most cases without bacterial growth being affected. To gain additional insight, the team investigated the molecular basis of bioaccumulation of the antidepressant duloxetine. They found that duloxetine binds to several metabolic enzymes and changes the metabolite secretion of the affected bacteria. When tested in a microbial community of drug accumulators and non-accumulators, duloxetine markedly altered the small molecules produced by the drug-accumulating bacteria, which the non-accumulators fed on; this caused an overabundance of consuming bacteria, thereby unbalancing the composition of the community. Further, the team validated their findings in C. elegans; worms grown in bacteria that accumulated duloxetine behaved differently from those grown in bacteria that did not accumulate duloxetine. Summing up, the authors state, “Together, our results show that bioaccumulation by gut bacteria may be a common mechanism that alters drug availability and bacterial metabolism, with implications for microbiota composition, pharmacokinetics, side effects and drug responses, probably in an individual manner.” Dr. Patil added, “Next steps will be to take forward this basic molecular research and investigate how an individual’s gut bacteria tie in with differing individual responses to drugs such as antidepressants – differences in response, drug dose needed, and side effects like weight gain.” “If we can characterize how people respond depending on the composition of their microbiome, then drug treatments could be individualized,” he said. “The clinical relevance will hopefully be clear in the next 2-3 years.” Dr. Libusha Kelly of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City commented on the study in an email to Reuters Health, “This work highlights the broad importance of microbe/drug interactions in drug bioavailability and the unrecognized potential for bioaccumulation of drugs to modify metabolite secretion in microbial communities.” “As the authors note,” she said, “this study in bacterial isolates is only the first step towards understanding how bioaccumulation might influence drug metabolism and microbial community composition in the context of the far more complicated communities of microbes in the human body.”
“There are likely additional, cryptic, ways in which bacteria alter bioavailability and drug metabolism in the human body,” she said. “Furthermore, we do not understand how microbiome/drug interactions influence drug efficacy and safety in individual patients, which limits the clinical utility of our field currently. However, the authors uncover an exciting direction for future research.” Source: https://go.nature.com/3CxioHd Nature, online September 8, 2021. Reuters Health Information © 2021

Oral Vitmain D

September 24, 2021 3:42 pm

We have had positive feedback from patients who have had Replesta Vitmain D shewable wafers. There are some cost considerations, when compared to the cheeper alternatives. The follow up labs have also shown improvement for the patients who have tried Replesta, compared to alternatives with better results. Note that this is not a product placement, as there is no financial interest to report.

Over the Counter Vitmain D3 better than the Prescription Vitamin D2

August 30, 2021 10:41 am

Vitamin D absorption is based on a complex series of pathways in the human body. We have discussed the significance of Vitamin D in a broad health condition, including Covid-19, immune system and bone structures. These articles explain the differences in detail. https://www.dssurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/jcem5387.pdf https://www.dssurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/jcemE447.pdf We have no finaicial insterst in the recommendations made on our site.

COVID Vaccines

March 05, 2021 3:50 pm

There are no known contraindications from a weight-loss surgical perspective to prevent a post-surgical patient from getting the COVID vaccines.

A patient who has had a Duodenal Switch, Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy, RNY Gastric Bypass, or revisions to Weight Loss Surgery should have the COVID vaccine. The vaccination should be avoided for a few weeks after surgery. For other possible contraindications, please consult your PCP.

Here is a summary of the vaccines and the details of each one approved as of the publication date.

 

 

 

All about vaccines?

February 14, 2021 2:41 pm

There is a lot of incorrect information on non-medical mass media about vaccines. Vaccines have been instrumental in our well being. As we face the challenge of COVID-19, our medical decisions must be made based on facts. Here are some interesting and concise descriptions of How do vaccines work? How are vaccines developed?  How are vaccines manufactured?   The source of all this information is WHO.

Vitamin D, Immune Responce and COVID-19

January 26, 2021 6:45 pm

Regardless of whether vitamin D protects against COVID-19, adequate levels are important for bone health. “Avoiding vitamin D deficiency is always a goal,” Ross wrote. “If the diet doesn’t include vitamin D fortified milk or natural products like fish, then a supplement of the RDA [recommended dietary allowance] amount (600-1000 IU per day) provides good assurance. I consider this a ‘good idea,’ but I don’t want to leave the impression that diet cannot be sufficient.”
Related articles:     https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/rationale-and-pl…d-guidance-paper/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/exploring-links-…ncy-and-covid-19/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/does-vitamin-d-d…rity-of-covid-19/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/an-estimate-of-t…vitamin-d-levels/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/short-term-high-…tudy-shade-study/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/association-betw…ovid-19-pandemic/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/vitamin-d-supple…elderly-covid-19/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/association-of-v…-19-test-results/ https://www.dssurgery.com/articles/sorting-out-whet…es-covid-19-risk/

Vitamin A and Wound healing

December 21, 2020 9:37 am

We have discussed the importance of vitamin A and eyesight at length previously.
Night Blindness – Vitamin A Deficiency
Nyctalopia (Night Blindness) An Early Sign of Vitamin A Deficiency with Video
A recent article discusses the types and function of vitamin A. As with the pandemic of COVID-19 continuous to stress our body and mind, we must stay vigilant with our nutritional status. Therefore, Vitamin supplements are critical in maintaining a robust immune system. For some, oral supplements are adequate; others may require injectable forms. If the oral supplements do not correct the vitamin A levels, please contact your primary care or our office to available vitamin A injections.