Why does administering broad-spectrum antibiotics often impair digestive efficiency within the human small intestine?

💡 Explanation

The small intestine relies on its resident microbiome to ferment undigested carbohydrates and other substrates. Antibiotics disrupt this microbial community, reducing fermentation processes, because they indiscriminately target both beneficial and harmful bacteria, therefore impairing digestive efficiency, rather than directly affecting bile, peristalsis, or villi function.

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