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The intestinal microbiota composition and weight development in children: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study

L E J M Scheepers1, J Penders2, C A Mbakwa1

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|October 10, 2014
PubMed

Insights

The infant gut microbiota, specifically the Bacteroides fragilis group, is linked to childhood weight development. This association is influenced by dietary fiber intake and lifestyle, highlighting the importance of early gut health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition

Background:

  • The composition of the intestinal microbiota in early infancy may influence long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding the relationship between infant gut bacteria and subsequent weight development is crucial for public health.
  • The KOALA Birth Cohort Study provides a valuable dataset for investigating early life exposures and health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if the intestinal microbiota composition in early infancy is associated with childhood weight development.
  • To explore potential modifying effects of dietary fiber intake and lifestyle on this association.

Main Methods:

  • Fecal samples from 909 one-month-old infants in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study were analyzed for specific bacterial groups using quantitative PCR.
  • Infant weight and height data were collected from ages 1 to 10 years, and body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated.
  • Generalized estimating equation models were used to analyze the association between microbiota composition and BMI z-scores, with stratification for fiber intake and recruitment group.

Main Results:

  • Colonization with the Bacteroides fragilis group showed a borderline association with higher BMI z-scores in the conventional subcohort.
  • This association was significant among children with low-fiber intake (higher BMI z-score) and inversely associated in children recruited through alternative channels.
  • Other targeted bacteria were not significantly associated with BMI z-scores across different subcohorts and dietary conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The intestinal microbiota, particularly the B. fragilis group, is associated with childhood weight development.
  • Dietary fiber intake and lifestyle factors appear to modulate this relationship.
  • Further research with unconstrained, in-depth microbiota characterization is needed to identify additional bacterial taxa and their impact.
Abstract

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