The effect of Gastrodin and Betahistine administration on gut microbial communities

Vestibular disorders, typically characterized by vertigo, disequilibrium, postural instability and oscillopsia, are major public health concerns with a high prevalence in individuals over age 40 and a great impact on the quality of life. Betahistine, a histamine H1 receptor agonist and H3 receptor antagonist, and gastrodin, the major bioactive ingredient of Gastrodia elata Blume and a phenolic glycoside that can be completely chemically synthesized now, are the two most common medications used as first-line therapy for peripheral vestibular disorders. Accumulating studies have focused on the effects of betahistine and gastrodin on the vestibular system individually and reported their therapeutic benefits for vestibular dysfunction in both animal models of vestibular deficits and patients. However, there is still a lack of comparative studies on the vestibular improvement effects of these two commonly used long-term prescription medications and little is known about their extra-vestibular effects: gastrointestinal functions, which is one of the most common issues complained during drug treatment.