Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Mefenamic Acid Induces Dysbiosis by Depleting Butyrogenic Gut Commensals.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) possess severe side effects, including various types of gastrointestinal symptoms. Mefenamic acid is one of the most widely used NSAIDs globally. Using an anaerobic in vitro fermentation model, we showed that mefenamic acid reduced the abundance of gut commensals and increased the abundance of pathobionts. Specifically, butyrate-producing commensals were reduced with mefenamic acid treatment. These results corroborate the metabolomics data showing depletion of butyrate, propionate, and their derivatives. Therefore, NSAID consumption could lead to gut dysbiosis, which in turn could lead to gastrointestinal complications generally associated with long-term NSAID use.