VIDEO: Antibiotics and Nutrient Depletion

Host: A big class of drugs that is commonly prescribed daily is antibiotics. Let's talk a bit about what they deplete.

Dr. Stengler: Well, the main nutrients antibiotics deplete are B vitamins. So if you've been on antibiotics, it is recommended you get on a B-complex or a good high-potency multivitamin that includes a B-complex — because of course B vitamins are needed for so many things, including good energy levels. A lot of people find they're tired ever since they've been on antibiotics. For a week or two after, boost up your B vitamins. You can also get your B vitamins from whole foods, including nutritional or brewer's yeast, which you can get from your health food store. A tablespoon or two a day can get your B vitamin levels up in a whole food base. So that's a good way to do it.

Host: Okay, what about the good bacteria in our gut that's being depleted when we take antibiotics? Let's talk about that a little.

Dr. Stengler: Sure. Well, I think that's the biggest problem. I think it is very strange that still today, when doctors prescribe antibiotics, they're not routinely recommending patients get on either yogurt with live cultures or probiotic supplements. You need this good bacteria for good immunity and good digestive function. A lot of people after they've been on antibiotics end up with loose stools or diarrhea, or women get vaginal yeast infections, men get jock itch — they get an overgrowth of fungal organisms like yeast. You can prevent that by taking yogurt or probiotic supplements while you're on antibiotics, and we recommend continuing for a month afterwards to build your levels back up. Very important.

Host: So should they take the probiotics at the same time as the antibiotic, or a couple of hours afterwards?

Dr. Stengler: We recommend at least two hours away from the antibiotic, since the antibiotic is going to destroy that good bacteria. And then for a month — well, really, people should be taking probiotics daily anyway. It's a great supplement during the wintertime to prevent colds and flu and support good immunity. If you're someone prone to digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome or colitis, it's a supplement we'd recommend being on daily because it's so helpful for improving digestive symptoms.

Host: But if someone doesn't want to do that, what's the minimum time they should take probiotics after finishing antibiotics?

Dr. Stengler: I'd say the minimum would be two weeks — a month would be better, but two weeks is really the minimum to recolonize the good bacteria.

Host: Are there different forms for adults versus children, or can you just get a generic probiotic?

Dr. Stengler: You can use a generic for most people, but for young kids under two years of age it's better to use a children's probiotic. There are different species of bacteria that are more common in children — bifidus, for example, is more common in children. That's why infant formulas have a higher proportion of bifidus bacteria, which is important. But other than that, a good lactobacillus acidophilus supplement — usually about five billion organisms a day — is what I recommend. It sounds like a lot, but you can get that in one or two capsules a day.

Host: Okay, perfect. That's great information.