The experiment was conducted on mouse models that were divided into two groups. The first ate a high-fat, low-fiber diet (simulating a Western diet), while the second ate a high-fiber diet (simulating a Mediterranean diet). After some time, the rodents were given antibiotics, and then various post-drug recovery strategies were assessed. The findings are published on the New Atlas website.
After a course of antibiotics, the mice were transplanted with the intestinal microbiota of healthy individuals, after which the rodents were divided into subgroups. The first and second ate as before, and the third and fourth swapped diets.
It turned out that the restoration of the intestinal microbiota occurred only with a diet with a large amount of fiber. Moreover, the effect was observed both in mice that always adhered to such a diet and in those who changed the diet immediately after taking antibiotics. In contrast, on a Western diet, the populations of beneficial bacteria did not recover even against the background of transplantation of microbiota samples.
"Apparently, it does not matter what bacteria are introduced into the body. If the diet is incorrect, they do not differentiate and do not restore the microbiota," the scientists concluded.
Previously, other researchers had found a new way to prevent bacterial resistance to antibiotics. They found a drug that removes non-target antibiotics that are far from the site of infection.