If You Get a Lot of UTIs, Improving Your Gut Health Could Help
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Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer Key TakeawaysMany people who experience urinary tract infections (UTIs) get another infection in less than a year.New research associated an imbalanced gut microbiome with these recurrent UTIs.Taking probiotics and eating a high-fiber diet may help lower risk, but more research is needed.
An imbalanced gut microbiome may lead to recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), a common infection in the urinary system that causes frequent and painful urination.A new study on women with a history of UTIs found that more than 70% of the participants had intestinal dysbiosis, an imbalance of the gut microbiome, which was associated with recurrent UTIs.Uropathogens, especially bacteria like E. coli from the digestive tract, cause UTIs. The microbes travel from the anus to the opening of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body, where they multiply and cause an infection. “There are good bacteria and bad bacteria in your gut, and when they’re balanced, that’s really a good state of health,” Igor Inoyatov, MD, a clinical assistant professor of Urology at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island, told Verywell. E. coli counts as “bad” bacteria. An imbalance of good and bad bacteria, however, can cause inflammation throughout the body.“Inflammation affects your immune system and can increase susceptibility to UTIs,” Inoyatov said. A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Can You Prevent UTIs By Supporting Gut Health?Women are especially prone to UTIs because their urethral openings are close to the anus, a main source of E. coli.“Your stool is filled with E. coli,” R. Mark Ellerkmann, MD, director of the Urogynecology Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, told Verywell.Even if you practice good hygiene and wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom, it doesn’t take a lot of E. coli to cause an infection.
Related: Why Do Lettuce and Spinach Keep Getting Contaminated With E. Coli?
UTIs are commonly treated with antibiotics. About 30% of women who experience a UTI get the same infection again within six months, meaning they need multiple rounds of antibiotics each year to treat the recurrent infections.“These antibiotics obviously kill the bad bacteria, but they also wreak havoc on the good bacteria in both the bladder and the gut,” Inoyatov said. “That can cause more antibiotic resistance, meaning you start to favor bacteria that are more resistant and kill the good bacteria.”Repeat antibiotic use, along with other dietary and lifestyle factors, may contribute to recurrent UTIs. Researchers have suggested that high-calorie, low-fiber diets packed with simple carbohydrates and added sugar could increase the risk of both disruptions to the microbe and UTIs.Fiber keeps the gut microbiome healthy and supports regular bowel movements. People who eat a low-fiber diet might experience chronic constipation, which could also increase their UTI risk.“When women are constipated, their stool—that burden of bacteria—is sitting for so long down there that it can lead to UTI,” Inoyatov said.Eating a high-fiber diet and staying hydrated can help reduce constipation risk, support a healthy gut microbiome, and potentially lower UTI risk.
Probiotics and Cranberry Supplements May HelpSome evidence suggests that probiotics, microorganisms in food or supplements that support the body's good bacteria, may help prevent recurrent UTIs. A 2019 randomized controlled trial found that a probiotic with two strains of Lactobacilli and cranberry extract effectively reduced recurrent UTIs in premenopausal adult women.Cranberry extract also helps reduce UTIs because it contains proanthocyanidins, which keep certain bacteria, like E. coli, from sticking to the urinary tract.
Related: Do Cranberry Supplements Prevent UTIs?
Ellerkmann said concentrated cranberry pills and supplements of D-mannose, a sugar that also prevents bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract wall, can help lower UTI risk.“You’re more likely to flush those bacteria out of the urinary tract,” Ellerkmann said.Other practices, like urinating after sex, staying hydrated, and not holding your urine can help lower UTI risk, but anyone stuck in a cycle of recurrent UTIs should consult with a trusted healthcare professional.“You shouldn’t feel ashamed. You shouldn’t feel like this is a hygiene problem,” Inoyatov said. “Typically, it’s almost never the fault of the patient. Once people understand that diet plays a role and fluid intake plays a role, they should see a urologist so they can have this conversation. Our goal is to get them with as few UTIs as possible.” What This Means For YouCertain practices, like wiping from front to back after going to the bathroom and urinating after sex, can reduce the risk of UTIs, but if the gut microbiome is imbalanced, it may help to also consider dietary and lifestyle factors. However, it is important to discuss your UTI risk with a trusted healthcare provider to find the prevention and treatment strategy that works best for you.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
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