By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Health Desk
A new study has revealed a strong link between antibiotic use and the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, particularly among seniors.
Researchers in Denmark reviewed health data from over 2.3 million adults aged 60 and older between 2000 and 2018. They found that the more antibiotic courses a person took, the greater their risk of developing IBD. Just one course was tied to a 27% higher risk. Two courses raised the risk to 55%, and five or more courses pushed it up to a staggering 236% higher than people who had not taken antibiotics in the previous five years 【blackdoctor.org†source】.
The timing of antibiotic use also mattered. The greatest risk occurred within one to two years after taking antibiotics, though elevated risk persisted for up to five years.
Which Antibiotics Are Risky?
Nearly all antibiotic classes were linked to increased IBD risk—except nitrofurantoin, often prescribed for urinary tract infections. Antibiotics used to treat gastrointestinal infections carried the strongest association with new IBD diagnoses 【blackdoctor.org†source】.
Why It Matters
Ulcerative colitis can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. While family history plays a smaller role in seniors, environmental factors—like medication use—become key. Dr. Adam Faye of NYU Grossman School of Medicine stresses the importance of antibiotic stewardship: using these drugs wisely, but not avoiding them when clearly needed 【blackdoctor.org†source】.
The Bottom Line
For older adults, especially those with repeated antibiotic use, monitoring gut health is critical. If you’ve had multiple antibiotic courses, talk to your doctor about symptoms such as unexplained abdominal pain or persistent digestive issues.
Antibiotics save lives—but overuse could raise the odds of chronic diseases that change them.