The gut microbiome and metabolic health in humans: individualised impact of antibiotic and prebiotic use

Around the world, the rate of antibiotic prescription is high, and this comes with several downsides. As antibiotics do not only work against pathogenic bacteria, ingestion of these drugs disturbs beneficial bacteria of the gut microbiome as well. The gut microbiome plays an important role in regulating host metabolic health, and disruptions in gut microbial composition and function lead to detrimental health effects in the host. It is therefore important to develop strategies that limit antibiotic-induced disruption of the gut microbiome. One interesting strategy would be through the intake of prebiotics, which act as food for beneficial bacteria in the gut. Results from this thesis show that prebiotic intake after antibiotic use improved the recovery of the gut microbiome in the short term in adults with overweight or obesity. In addition, this thesis elucidated determinants of the individualised response to antibiotic and prebiotic use.