Depletions > Antibiotic Medications, ...
Antibiotic Medications
Cephalosporins

Depletions
Probiotics; Bifidobacteria bifidum; Lactobacillus Acidophilus; Saccaromyces boulardii

Reducing the number of probiotic organisms in the gastrointestinal tract may decrease the body's ability to resist infections and diseases. Symptoms of deficiency include gas, abdominal distress, diarrhea, and yeast infections.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency may include cracks at the corners of the mouth, inflammation of the skin, growth retardation, and impaired wound healing.

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

Low levels of folic acid have been linked to anemia, heart disease, birth defects, and colon cancer.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are rare because it takes years to develop complications associated with long-term depletion of this nutrient. Irritability, weakness, numbness, anemia, loss of appetite, headache, personality changes, and confusion are some of the signs and symptoms associated with vitamin B12 depletion. Low levels of this vitamin may also be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, heart disease, brain disorders, and birth defects.

Vitamin H (Biotin)

Low levels of biotin are associated with changes in skin color, inflammation of the skin, hair loss, muscle pain, anemia, loss of appetite, depression, insomnia, and elevated levels of cholesterol.

Vitamin K

The major symptom of vitamin K deficiency is an inability of the blood to clot properly, which may lead to excessive bleeding and a tendency to bruise easily.

Editorial Note

Supporting Research

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Ames BN. Micronutrient deficiencies: A major cause of DNA damage. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2000;889:87-106.

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Berger W. Incidence of severe side effects during therapy with sulfonylureas and biguanides. Horm Metab Res Suppl. 1985;15:111-115.

Carmel R. Current concepts in cobalamin deficiency. Ann Rev Med. 2000;51:357-375.

Carpentier JL, Bury J, Luyckx A, Lefebvre P. Vitamin B12 and folic acid serum levels in diabetics under various therapeutic regimens. Diabetes Metab. 1976;2(4):187-190.

Covington T, ed. Nonprescription Drug Therapy Guiding Patient Self-Care. St Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1999: 467-545.

Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA. 1996;275(11):870-876.

Floor M, van Akkeren F, Rozenberg-Arska M, et al. Effect of loracarbef and amoxicillin on the oropharyngeal and intestinal microflora of patients with bronchitis. Scand J Infect Dis. 1994;26(2):191-197.

Galland L. The Four Pillars of Healing. New York, NY: Random House; 1997:186-199.

Gotz V, Romankiewicz JA, Moss J, Murray HW. Prophylaxis against ampicillin associated diarrhea with a lactobacillus preparation. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1979;36:754-757.

Hill MJ. Intestinal flora and endogenous vitamin synthesis. Eur J Cancer Prev. 1997;6(Suppl 1):S43-S45.

Lode H, Muller C, Borner K, et al. Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of cefprozil and its impact on intestinal flora of volunteers. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992;36(1):144-149.

Mayer EL, Jacobsen DW, Robinson K. Homocysteine and coronary atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1996;27(3):517-527.

McFarland LV, et al. Prevention of Beta-lactam-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardi compared with placebo. Am J Gastroenterol. 1995;90(3):439-448.

Murray, M, Pizzorno, J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine 2nd ed. Rocklin: Prima Publishing; 1998:435.

Nord CE, Grahnen A, Eckernas SA. Effect of loracarbef on the normal oropharyngeal and intestinal microflora. Scand J Infect Dis. 1991;23(2):255-260.

Nord CE. The effect of antimicrobial agents on the ecology of the human intestinal microflora. Vet Microbiol. 1993;35(3-4):193-197.

Novelli A, Mazzei T, Fallani S, et al. Betalactam therapy and intestinal flora. J Chemother. 1995;7(Suppl 1):25-31.

Olson RE. Vitamin K. In: Shils, ME, Olson JA, Shike, M, eds. Modern Nutrition in health and disease. 9th ed. Media, PA: Williams & Wilkins; 1999:363-380.

Powers HJ. Current knowledge concerning optimum nutritional status of riboflavin, niacin and pyridoxine. Proc Nutr Soc. 1999;58(2):435-440.

Schafer H, Naber K, Adam D. [Hemostasis disturbance caused by cephalosporins with an N-methylthiotetrazole side chain. A randomized pilot study]. Arznimettelforschung. 1989;39(9):1156-1162.

Spurling NW, Harcourt RA, Hyde JJ. An evaluation of the safety of cefuroxime axetil during six months oral administration to beagle dogs. J Toxicol Sci. 1986;11(4):237-277.

Stieger R, Baumgartner K, Neff U. [Dangerous hypothrombinemic hemorrhage in antibiotic therapy]. Helv Chir Acta. 1992;58(6):775-778.

Surawicz CM, Elmer GW, Speelman P, et al. Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: A prospecive study. Gastroenterol. 1989;96(4):981-988.

Vermeer C, Schurgers LJ. A comprehensive review of vitamin K and vitamin K antagonists. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2000;14(2):339-353.

Review Date: October 2000
Reviewed By: All depletions monographs have been reviewed by a team of experts including Derrick M. DeSilva, Jr., MD, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy, NJ; Jacqueline A. Hart, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Harvard University and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc., Boston, MA; John Hinze, PharmD, NMD, Woodbine, IA; Ruth Marlin, MD, Medical Director and Director of Medical Education, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Sausalito, CA; Brian T Sanderoff, PD, BS in Pharmacy, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy; President, Your Prescription for Health, Owings Mills, MD; Leonard Wisneski, MD, FACP, George Washington University, Rockville, MD; Ira Zunin, MD, MPH, MBA, President and Chairman, Hawaii State Consortium for Integrative Medicine, Honolulu, HI.