Evaluating bentonite clay’s potential in protecting intestinal flora and alleviating pseudomembranous colitis following antibiotic usage

Abstract

As the most commonly used drugs, antibiotics have several adverse effects. When intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics are administered for infections outside the gut, they are also released into the gut, upsetting the natural balance of flora and potentially causing opportunistic infections there. Pseudomembranous colitis induced by the excessive growth of Clostridioides difficile following antibiotic administration and disruption of the normal gut flora is a main consequence of antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, effective strategies to mitigate the damage caused by antibiotics to the microbiota remain elusive, with limited information available on the subject. Several studies have examined the effects of enzymatic inactivation of specific antibiotics, but non-enzymatic inactivation of antibiotics has been explored to a lesser extent, resulting in the introduction of only a restricted number of products. We believe that bentonite clay, an underutilized substance that exhibits promising features for counteracting the unfavorable effects of antibiotics has a high potential to circumvent the side effects of antibiotics. It is a cost-effective and safe and has garnered significant attention in the medical history, predominantly for its superior adsorption properties. Given the diverse characteristics of bentonite clay, capacity to protect the natural flora, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory traits, and its contribution to wound healing, it is plausible to assume that bentonite clay exhibits significant potential in mitigating the detrimental consequences of antibiotic on the natural gut microbiota and following pseudomembranous colitis. Further research is necessary to unravel the full extent of its therapeutic effects in combating this condition.