We all know that antibiotics are made to help you with hopefully minimal side effects, but what if the antibiotic is actually doing more damage to you than to the bacteria?
Recently, a group of scientists learned that antibiotics used to kill bacteria may also be penetrating the mitochondria and ultimately leaving harmful effects. It seems to only make sense though considering mitochondria are said to have come from bacteria.
How does this happen? It is currently believed that the antibiotic causes a high increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a possible means to kill the bacteria. The problem- the ROS also attacks at the mitochondria leaving the mitochondria less efficient.
Furthermore, when antibiotics that only stop bacterial growth are tested, the mitochondria are not changed.
Scientists do say that these kinds of extremely harmful effects are more so geared towards individuals constantly on heavy antibiotics. Ones who do not take antibiotics often, are less likely to have any severe damage.
Currently, studies are still being done to obtain more information. Also, studies involved with combining antioxidants, used to suppress ROS, and antibiotics are being done.
Just a small article that I found interesting...
Link to article in "The Scientist"
HaHa this is funny because my first blog was about this and I don't know if you got a chance to look at it. I did come across the article you provide but found that a group of scientists were focused on finding ways to depress the effects of oxidative stress. If you want you can take a look at my first blog.
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling that this was going to end up happening to someone in the class, and sure enough, it was me! I was wondering what would happen if two of us posted on the same thing without knowing since we might not read everyone's blog every week. I'll ask Dr. Randle about this on Monday in class. Thanks for letting me know; I'll definitely check yours out!
DeleteAll good. Hard to avoid. It never hurts to have a few differing (or at least independent) viewpoints.
DeleteWhew. Of course it was my luck that I would be the one to use the same blog as someone else.
DeleteThe funny part about all of this is, I was meaning to comment on Jessica's since last week and never got the chance. Lucky enough for me, I can now, but with you!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I like this topic. It now supports the reason why I try not to take medicine until it is absolutely needed. Over the summer, I started to get perocoronitis (infection near wisdom tooth) and my Dentist automatically gave me a prescription of antibiotics. I had a strong belief that I didn't need the antibiotics, the only thing I needed to do was kill the anaerobic bacteria directly but drowning it in H2O2, thus providing an environment it can flourish in. Sure enough the swelling went down and I didn't antibiotics!
It's crazy how there are things out to help the Human race, but it seems like in the long run, it doesn't.
Peroxide works on EVERYTHING! ...except red stains in carpets...
DeleteYour story just goes to show that sometimes simple is better and healthier.
I feel like if you sneeze too much the doctors will just prescribe you with antibiotics. Since antibiotics are just given out for simple to complex infection, the rate of antibiotic resistance bacteria is growing and growing. When I first started college, I did not think much of this and kept taking the antibiotics they were giving me. Now that I work with bacteria antibiotic resistance, I question if I keep getting an upper respiratory infection for my body just use to the antibiotics or just me having slight breathing problem. This is a great research but is scary at the same time.
ReplyDeleteVery scary. I was the same way though. I didn't realize how much antibiotics harm you at the same time that they are suppose to be helping you, until I got to college. Antibiotics just give bacteria the ability to come back with a vengeance and stronger resistance every time.
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