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Breastfeeding increases microbial community resilience

Isabel I Carvalho-Ramos1, Rubens T D Duarte2, Katia G Brandt3

  • 1Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Jornal De Pediatria
|September 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Exclusive breastfeeding promotes a resilient infant gut microbiota, even with external factors like diet changes. Mixed feeding before five months disrupted this stability, highlighting the importance of continued exclusive breastfeeding.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infant Health
  • Gut Microbiome

Background:

  • Previous studies characterized the intestinal microbiota of Brazilian infants from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Understanding early-life microbial community development is crucial for infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze changes in the infant gut microbial community structure during the first year of life.
  • To investigate the impact of external factors on infant gut microbiota development.
  • To assess the resilience of the infant gut microbiota to environmental influences.

Main Methods:

  • Monthly fecal sample collection from 11 infants during their first year.
  • Clinical, dietary, and breastfeeding information was recorded.
  • DNA extraction followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction - Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis.

Main Results:

  • Infant gut microbiota showed stable patterns in infants exclusively or predominantly breastfed.
  • Ecological succession occurred despite complementary feeding and antibiotic use, indicating microbiota resilience.
  • Mixed feeding and early introduction of solids (before 5 months) disrupted microbial stability.

Conclusions:

  • The infant intestinal microbiota exhibits resilience to external factors when exclusive breastfeeding is maintained.
  • Probiotic and prebiotic effects of breast milk contribute to microbiota resilience.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age is crucial for establishing a stable and resilient gut microbiota.
Abstract

Keywords:
Aleitamento maternoAlimentaçãoAntibioticAntibióticoAnálise de dendrogramaBreastfeedingDendrogram analysisFoodIntestinal microbiotaMicrobial resilienceMicrobiota intestinalResistência microbiana

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