Antibiotic Use Tied to 1.5x Higher IBS Odds at Age 24, Study Finds
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Barcelona – October 18, 2026 -- Young adults who received antibiotics from childhood onward had 1.5 times the odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at age 24 (95% CI 1.0–2.2), according to a study presented at UEG Week 2026.
Study tracks 2,853 Swedish participants from age 9–11
Researchers analysed data from 2,853 participants in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort. Antibiotic prescriptions came from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, covering 2005, when participants were aged 9–11, until one year before IBS was assessed at age 24.
At 24, 10.0% of participants had IBS. Antibiotic exposure was higher among those with IBS, at 87.8%, versus 80.2% among those without. The 1.5-times odds ratio was adjusted for sex and family socioeconomic status.