"Does Colon Cleansing Wipe Out Our Gut Microbiome" - Karen Weintraub
Preparing for a colonoscopy requires clearing the bowel with fasting, a laxative drink and, in some cases, and enema. While such preparation can alter the microbiome, the rich array of microbes that are present in the gut, research suggests that the microbiome bounces back in about two to four weeks. Even an enema won’t clear out all the bacteria from the colon, said Ari Grinspan, MD, assistant professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. People’s microbiomes tend to be very stable after the age of about three. “If you go to Thailand and eat interesting food, or get a bug of some kind, your microbiome will change, but in most cases, it will go back to its normal state afterwards,” Dr. Grinspan said.
- Ari Grinspan, MD, Assistant Professor, Medicine, Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai