Microbiota munch on medications, causing big effects on drug activity. pnas.Levodopa’s side effects and benefits vary widely...

[aspergerian13]

Inner Workings: Microbiota munch on medications, causing big effects on drug activity. pnas.

Levodopa’s side effects and benefits vary widely among patients. Those puzzling disparities, it turns out, have a lot to do with the microbes in their guts...

Balskus and her colleagues found that although carbodopa works on human enzymes, it does not inhibit bacterial decarboxylase. In fact, the bacterial enzyme acts on the drug in the intestines before it crosses the blood–brain barrier, triggering problematic symptoms (1).

pnas.org/content/early/2020...

[Enidah]

Fascinating! We are such complex beings and I'm sure there is much more to figure out about us. This sounds pretty hopeful for those of us taking meds.

[ladyaudree]

I guess this is good news because it could lead to answers as to why the meds are ineffective or become ineffective. Is it a case for taking probiotics which purport to increase "good" gut bacteria?

[aspergerian13 in reply to ladyaudree]

There may be no dbpc study yet, and there are precautionary warnings, but my hunch is that some individuals may benefit. Fecal analysis might identity faecalis or not. [Here we go again, into faith-based argumentation.