Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Recapitulating Suckling-to-Weaning Transition In Vitro using Fetal Intestinal Organoids
08:15

Recapitulating Suckling-to-Weaning Transition In Vitro using Fetal Intestinal Organoids

Published on: November 15, 2019

Compositional development of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus microbiota is linked with crying and fussing in early

Anna Pärtty1, Marko Kalliomäki, Akihito Endo

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. aklein@utu.fi

Plos One
|March 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Certain gut bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, may help reduce infant crying and fussing. Further research into specific bacterial strains could benefit infants experiencing excessive distress.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infant Health
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Infant fussing and crying are common challenges for parents.
  • The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in infant development and health.
  • Understanding the relationship between gut bacteria and infant behavior is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between gut microbiota composition and infant fussing/crying.
  • To determine if specific bacterial groups in the infant gut correlate with distress levels.

Main Methods:

  • Behavioral data (crying and fussing duration) collected from 89 infants via parental diaries.
  • Gut microbiota composition analyzed using molecular assays during the first six months of life.
  • Statistical analysis to identify correlations between bacterial counts and infant distress.

Main Results:

  • A higher proportion of Bifidobacterium was linked to less crying and fussing in the first three months (p=0.03).
  • However, Bifidobacterium breve specifically showed a positive association with increased distress (p=0.02).
  • Lactobacillus spp. presence at 3 weeks inversely correlated with distress at 7 weeks (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

  • Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus may offer protective effects against infant crying and fussing.
  • Identifying specific strains with beneficial properties could aid in managing infant distress.
  • This suggests a potential role for probiotics in modulating infant behavior.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes01:27

Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes

Firmicutes is a diverse phylum of Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a low GC content in their genomes. This phylum includes organisms with monoderm or diderm cell envelopes, highlighting a complex evolutionary history. Firmicutes comprises several major orders, including Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Bacillales, which exhibit remarkable diversity in their morphology, metabolism, and ecological roles.The order Lactobacillales includes lactic acid bacteria, which are fermentative...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...