Long‐Term or Recurrent Antibiotic Use in Early Life and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Population‐Based Prospective Cohort and a Case–Control Study

PMCID: PMC12176498

PMID: 40533417

DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.70113

Journal: Journal of diabetes

Publication Date: 2025-6-18

Authors: Li Z, He Q, He X, Xing X, Fu S, et al.

Key Points

• Long-term or recurrent antibiotic use during childhood may significantly increase type 2 diabetes risk
• 26% higher hazard ratio for diabetes in UK Biobank cohort; 3.32 times higher odds in Chinese case-control study
• Healthcare providers should exercise caution when prescribing prolonged antibiotic treatments to children and adolescents

Summary

This comprehensive study investigated the potential long-term health consequences of long-term or recurrent antibiotic use (LRAU) during early life, specifically examining its association with type 2 diabetes risk. Utilizing two population-based studies—a prospective UK Biobank cohort of 147,010 participants and a case-control study in the Chinese population—researchers found a significant correlation between early-life antibiotic exposure and increased diabetes risk.

In the UK Biobank cohort, participants with LRAU demonstrated a 26% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.16-1.37) after accounting for traditional risk factors. The case-control study in the Chinese population revealed an even more pronounced association, with long-term antibiotic users having a 3.32 times higher odds of developing diabetes (OR 3.32, 95% CI 2.06-5.38). These findings suggest a potential mechanistic link between early antibiotic exposure, gut microbiome disruption, and metabolic dysfunction.