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Lactobacilli in the intestinal microbiota of Swedish infants

Siv Ahrné1, Elisabet Lönnermark, Agnes E Wold

  • 1Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Lund University, Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden. siv.ahrne@livsteki.lth.se

Microbes and Infection
|July 9, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Lactobacillus colonization peaks at 6 months in infants, especially in breast-fed babies. After weaning, food-related Lactobacillus species become dominant, indicating a shift in gut flora composition.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Infant gut microbiota development is crucial for health.
  • Lactobacillus species play a significant role in early life gut colonization.
  • Understanding Lactobacillus colonization patterns informs probiotic and dietary interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the temporal dynamics of Lactobacillus colonization in Swedish infants.
  • To identify dominant Lactobacillus species during different infant developmental stages.
  • To explore the influence of feeding mode on Lactobacillus colonization.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative cultivation of fecal samples from 112 infants at multiple time points (1 week to 18 months).
  • Species identification using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
  • Strain typing via randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis.

Main Results:

  • Lactobacillus colonization peaked at 6 months (45% of infants), with L. rhamnosus and L. gasseri being most common.
  • Breast-fed infants showed higher Lactobacillus colonization rates, particularly L. rhamnosus, at 6 months.
  • Post-weaning (12-18 months), food-associated species like L. paracasei and L. plantarum became dominant.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding promotes colonization by specific Lactobacillus species, notably L. rhamnosus, in early infancy.
  • The infant gut Lactobacillus composition undergoes significant shifts post-weaning, influenced by dietary changes.
  • Lactobacillus colonization patterns are dynamic and influenced by feeding practices, with implications for infant gut health.

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