To our knowledge, our study was the first to examine the contribution of delivery mode to
infant intestinal microbiome composition in association with that of another important predictor of microbiome composition, infant diet.
Objective To examine the associations of delivery mode and feeding method with
infant intestinal microbiome composition at approximately 6 weeks of life.
Not exact matches
We characterized the
intestinal microbiome of 102 6 - week - old
infants and observed independent associations between stool microbial community composition, mode of delivery, and feeding method.
We evaluated the associations between the composition of the 6 - week
intestinal microbiome and both delivery mode and feeding method in 102 full - term, appropriately grown
infants enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study.
Although a few previous studies have found associations between
infant feeding and
intestinal microbiome composition,9 - 12, 14 to our knowledge, none has examined the relative contribution of combination feeding (breast milk and formula) alongside exclusive formula or breastfeeding to overall microbial community composition.
We examined the associations between the
intestinal microbiome of 6 - week - old
infants, delivery mode, and feeding method, including supplementation of breast milk feeding with formula.
An emerging body of literature in adults has begun to establish clear associations between gut
microbiome composition and a wide range of health outcomes.1 - 6 In contrast, comparatively little is known about the gut
microbiome in
infants and children, the exposures that shape it, and its lifelong health effects.7 Although limited in their size and scope, a number of studies have established associations between
intestinal microbiome profiles in
infants, delivery mode, and / or breast milk exposure.8 - 15 These factors both have long - term health consequences.
The observed differences due to delivery and feeding modes highlight their importance in shaping the early
intestinal microbiome and point to possible explanations for some of the risks and benefits associated with
infant delivery and feeding practices.
Importance The
intestinal microbiome plays a critical role in
infant development, and delivery mode and feeding method (breast milk vs formula) are determinants of its composition.
In a previous study of 24 healthy women, vaginal
microbiome composition became less diverse between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and just before delivery was enriched with Lactobacillus species, likely contributing to vertical transmission of these bacteria during vaginal birth.21 In a study of 10 newborns in Venezuela, within hours of delivery, the
intestinal tracts of
infants born vaginally were colonized by Lactobacillus and Prevotella, whereas
infants delivered operatively acquired bacteria present on the mother's skin and the hospital environment, such as Staphylococcus, Proprionibacterium, and Corynebacterium.15 Quiz Ref ID Our findings, based on a large group of 6 - week - old
infants, indicated that Lactobacillus also contributes to the microbial environment of the gut but to a lesser extent than Bifidobacteria, Bacteroides, and Streptococcus.
Preterm
infant gut microbiota affects
intestinal epithelial development in a humanized
microbiome gnotobiotic mouse model.