LPS and Health Maintenance

(4) Antibiotics and LPS

LPS has been shown to reduce some adverse reactions of antibiotics (*1).

Although antibiotics are highly useful to treat bacterial infections, they also have the disadvantage of killing enterobacteria as well. Thus, some people experience intestinal upset after taking antibiotics. One of the many important roles of enterobacteria is the induction of endogenous antimicrobials. Endogenous antimicrobials are effective even in resistant bacteria in which antibiotics are no longer effective. However, as enterobacteria die by antibiotics, the induction of endogenous antimicrobials decreases, and they become unable to control resistant bacteria, allowing resistant bacteria proliferation. Although it is confusing, more a person takes antibiotics, the more resistant bacteria proliferate, leading to a troublesome situation. In lieu of enterobacteria, LPS can induce endogenous antimicrobials (*1). This effect is not shown with components from Gram-positive bacteria, such as lactic acid bactera, indicating that it is not possible to induce endogenous antimicrobials by eating yogurt.
Therefore, when you take antibiotics, you are advised to take LPS as well.

(*1) Vancomycin-resistant enterococci exploit antibiotic-induced innate immune deficits, Nature 455: 804-807 (2008)