Levodopa is an oral medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. Doctors often add other drugs called COMT inhibitors to help more levodopa reach the brain.
New research found that these COMT inhibitors can kill some gut bacteria. When those bacteria are reduced, other bacteria can grow more. One such bacterium, Enterococcus faecalis, can break down levodopa in the gut so less drug gets to the brain. This effect can reduce the benefit of levodopa.
The study was published in Nature Microbiology and came from researchers at Yale School of Medicine. The authors suggest doctors and researchers should look at how gut bacteria affect responses to medicines.
Difficult words
- levodopa — a medicine taken to treat Parkinson's disease
- inhibitor — a drug that stops or slows activityinhibitors
- bacterium — a very small living cell found in naturebacteria
- gut — the stomach and intestine area inside the body
- break down — to change something into smaller parts
- benefit — a good effect or help from something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think doctors should check a patient's gut bacteria before giving medicines? Why or why not?
- How could changes in gut bacteria change the effect of a medicine you take?
- Have you heard about a medicine that did not work well for someone? What happened?
Related articles
Some processed foods may be addictive
Researchers say many ultraprocessed products — like snacks, sugary drinks and fast food — share addictive qualities with tobacco. The study urges a shift from blaming individuals toward policies that hold companies accountable for engineered, habit-forming foods.
