03/09/2026
Common Medications can Alter Gut Microbiomes Years After Use: the main points
These microbial communities influence digestion, metabolism, immune function, and other aspects of health. Common medications are associated with gut microbiome differences that can remain detectable years after treatment ends. Researchers led by the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics analyzed stool samples and prescription records from more than 2,500 Estonian Biobank participants in the Estonian Microbiome cohort. Most medications examined were associated with differences in the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the digestive tract. A substantial number of drugs showed associations long after participants had stopped taking them. Prescription history can therefore support explain persistent variation among individual gut microbiomes.