article_snippet: Findings from a new US study underline the need to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, a new US study is claimed.
article_snippet: Researchers from the Departments of Gastroenterology and Medical Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania carried out the investigation.
article_snippet: Study leader Dr Ben Boursi said ‘Gut bacteria have been suggested to influence the mechanisms behind obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes in both animal and human models.
article_snippet: ‘Previous studies have shown that antibiotics can alter the digestive ecosystem.
article_snippet: Dr Yu-Xiao Yang added:
article_snippet: ‘While our study does not show cause and effect, we think changing levels and diversity of gut bacteria could explain the link between antibiotics and diabetes risk.
article_snippet: Study leader Dr Ben Boursi Study leader Dr Ben Boursi said ‘Over-prescription of antibiotics is already a problem around the world as bacteria become increasingly resistant to bacteria effects.
article_snippet: ‘Our findings are important, not only for understanding how diabetes may develop, but as a warning to reduce unnecessary antibiotic treatments that might do more harm than good.
article_snippet: The idea that antibiotics might contribute to diabetes development might be important and more research needs to be done.