health briefs

Nix Sweeteners to Avoid Spreading Antibiotic Resistance

Four widely used artificial sweeteners—saccharine, sucralose, aspartame and acesulfame potassium—promote the transfer of antibiotic resistsvetina/AdobeStock.com tance genes in both environmental and clinical settings, report researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, in The ISME Journal. They found that these four nonnutritive sweeteners promote horizontal transfer of the genes between bacteria, furthering the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes in the intestine. The researchers say the findings provide insight into the spread of antimicrobial resistance and point to a potential risk associated with ingesting the artificial sweeteners.

Consider Depression Treatment to Fight Ulcers

Research from the University of Queensland, in Australia, has found that peptic ulcers and irritable bowsyndrome, along with other gut disorders, are linked to depression. The researchers analyzed health data from more than 450,000 people and found eight genetic variants that predispose people to peptic ulcers and other gut diseases, often with depression as a comorbidity. Lead author Yeda Wu says the research supports a holistic approach to identifying and caring for patients with gastrointestinal diseases, noting, “As a medical student, I noticed how some patients’ gastrointestinal symptoms improved after psychotherapy or psychiatry treatment.”