Childhood Antibiotic Use Linked to Higher IBS Odds in Young Adulthood
A study presented at UEG Week 2026 found that antibiotic use from childhood through early adulthood is associated with increased odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by age 24.
Antibiotic use during childhood and early adulthood has been linked to a higher likelihood of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by age 24, according to a study presented at UEG Week 2026.
The research analyzed data from 2,853 participants in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort. Information on antibiotic prescriptions was collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register from 2005 until one year prior to IBS assessment at age 24. The study found that 10.0% of participants had IBS at age 24.
Individuals who had received antibiotics were more likely to have IBS (87.8%) compared to those without the condition (80.2%). After accounting for factors like sex and socioeconomic status, those with a history of antibiotic use showed 1.5 times the odds of developing IBS compared to those who had not used antibiotics.
The risk of IBS increased with the number of antibiotic prescriptions received. Participants with three or more prescriptions had 1.6 times the odds of IBS compared to those who received no antibiotics. Certain classes of antibiotics, including tetracyclines and cephalosporins, showed a significant association with increased IBS risk.
Researchers suggest that the link may be due to antibiotics altering the gut microbiome, which is believed to play a role in IBS. The findings highlight the importance of judicious antibiotic prescribing to balance essential treatment with potential long-term effects.