Antibiotics and Diabetes Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Jessica Edstorp, Marios Rossides, Emma Ahlqvist, Lars Alfredsson, Johan Askling, Daniela Di Giuseppe, Valdemar Grill, Elin P. Sorgjerd, Tiinamaija Tuomi, Bjørn O. Åsvold, Sofia Carlsson
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
Does exposure to antibiotics increase the risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 2 diabetes?
Conclusion
The study found no evidence that exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics increases the risk of LADA, but there was some indication of increased risk with narrow-spectrum antibiotics.
Supporting Evidence
- 56% of participants in ESTRID had at least one antibiotic dispensation 1–5 years prior to diagnosis.
- An increased risk of LADA was observed with narrow-spectrum antibiotics 6–10 years prior to diagnosis.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics did not show an increased risk of LADA.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether taking antibiotics can make people more likely to get a type of diabetes called LADA. They found that while broad-spectrum antibiotics didn't seem to cause any problems, narrow-spectrum antibiotics might be linked to a higher risk.
Methodology
The study used data from two case-control studies, ESTRID and HUNT, analyzing antibiotic dispensations and diabetes diagnoses.
Potential Biases
Potential for reverse causation and misclassification of diabetes types.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable to populations outside of Sweden and Norway, and there may be misclassification of diabetes types.
Participant Demographics
Participants included adults diagnosed with LADA and type 2 diabetes, with a mix of genders and ages.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.93, 1.41
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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