Plant-based enteral nutrition (PBEN) was superior to artificial enteral nutrition (AEN) in promoting recovery from antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in mice and humans, mitigating anemia and leukopenia, restoring naive lymphocyte populations, and reducing bone marrow myeloid expansion.
Key Findings
Results
PBEN was superior to AEN in promoting recovery from antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in both mouse models and critically ill children.
The study used both a randomized mouse model and a pilot clinical study in critically ill children.
PBEN-fed animals showed improved microbiome recovery compared to AEN-fed animals following antibiotic exposure.
The clinical pilot study validated mouse findings by demonstrating increased gut commensals and reduced pathogens in PBEN-receiving children.
Results build on prior work showing PBEN preserves commensal microbiome compared with commonly used AEN.
Results
PBEN effectively mitigated antibiotic-induced anemia and leukopenia in mice.
Animals receiving AEN following antibiotic exposure developed more pronounced anemia and leukopenia compared to PBEN-fed animals.
PBEN intervention was associated with restoration of blood cell parameters affected by antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.
These hematologic benefits were observed in the mouse model randomized to dietary intervention following antibiotic exposure.
Results
PBEN restored naive lymphocyte populations that were depleted following antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotic exposure led to reductions in naive lymphocyte populations, which were more effectively restored in PBEN-fed animals.
Restoration of naive lymphocyte populations suggests improved immune reconstitution with PBEN compared to AEN.
This finding was observed in the mouse model component of the study.
Results
PBEN reduced bone marrow myeloid expansion associated with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.
Animals randomized to AEN exhibited greater bone marrow myeloid expansion following antibiotic exposure compared to PBEN-fed animals.
Reduced myeloid expansion in the PBEN group suggests attenuation of stress hematopoiesis driven by dysbiosis.
Bone marrow findings were part of the mouse model experimental results.
Results
Animals fed PBEN showed improved responses to infectious gastrointestinal challenges following antibiotic exposure.
Mice randomized to PBEN exhibited improved outcomes when subjected to infectious gastrointestinal challenges after antibiotic treatment.
AEN-fed animals showed comparatively worse responses to the same infectious challenges.
This finding suggests PBEN may confer protective benefits against secondary infections that commonly follow antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.
Results
Critically ill children receiving PBEN demonstrated improved leukocyte balance compared to those receiving AEN.
The pilot clinical study enrolled critically ill children receiving supplemental enteral nutrition.
PBEN recipients showed improved leukocyte balance relative to AEN recipients.
This clinical finding paralleled the immune reconstitution results observed in the mouse model.
The study characterized this as a 'pilot clinical study,' indicating a relatively small sample size and preliminary nature.
Results
Critically ill children receiving PBEN had increased gut commensals and reduced pathogens compared to those receiving AEN.
Gut microbiome composition was assessed in critically ill children as part of the pilot clinical study.
PBEN was associated with higher abundance of commensal microorganisms in the gut.
AEN-fed children had comparatively higher pathogen levels in the gut microbiome.
These clinical microbiome findings validated the mouse model results showing superior dysbiosis recovery with PBEN.
Background
Malnutrition, gut inflammation, and antibiotic-induced dysbiosis are recognized as risk factors for poor clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, providing the rationale for this study.
The study was motivated by the high prevalence of antibiotic use and associated dysbiosis in critically ill, hospitalized patients.
Commercially available PBEN was identified as a practical dietary intervention to test against standard AEN.
Prior work by the same group had established that PBEN preserves commensal microbiome relative to AEN, forming the basis for this dysbiosis recovery study.
What This Means
This research suggests that feeding critically ill patients a plant-based formula (made from real food ingredients) is better than standard artificial tube-feeding formulas for helping patients recover from the gut microbiome damage caused by antibiotics. Using both mouse experiments and a small human study in critically ill children, the researchers found that patients and animals given the plant-based formula had healthier gut bacteria communities — with more beneficial bacteria and fewer harmful pathogens — after antibiotic treatment compared to those given the standard artificial formula.
Beyond gut bacteria, the plant-based formula also appeared to protect the immune system and blood. Animals fed the plant-based formula recovered better from antibiotic-related anemia (low red blood cells) and leukopenia (low white blood cells), had healthier immune cell populations, and were better able to fight off gut infections afterward. The critically ill children in the pilot study similarly showed better immune cell balance when given the plant-based formula. These findings suggest that the type of nutrition provided during and after antibiotic treatment can meaningfully affect how well the gut and immune system recover.
This research matters because antibiotics are widely used in hospitals and are known to disrupt the gut microbiome, which can make patients more vulnerable to secondary infections and immune problems. The study suggests that switching from standard artificial tube-feeding formulas to commercially available plant-based alternatives could be a practical, low-risk way to reduce some of the harmful side effects of antibiotic treatment in hospitalized patients — though larger clinical trials would be needed to confirm these benefits and guide clinical practice.