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Characterization of the Stool Microbiome in Hispanic Preschool Children by Weight Status and Time
Emily B Hollister1,2, Byron A Foster3, Mahmoud Dahdouli1,2
11 Texas Children's Microbiome Center , Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to gut bacteria differences. Obese children showed individualized gut microbe changes over time, not a uniform response, after a weight loss intervention.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Obesity Research
- Gut Microbiome Studies
Background:
- Childhood adiposity is associated with gut microbiota variations, but most evidence is cross-sectional.
- Understanding longitudinal changes in the gut microbiome related to weight is crucial for pediatric obesity interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between body weight and gut microbiota composition over time in obese preschool-aged children.
- To evaluate how a behavioral intervention impacts the gut microbiome in relation to weight change.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples were collected from obese and normal-weight (NW) preschool-aged children at baseline and post-intervention.
- Gut microbial community composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Diversity metrics, Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes (F:B) ratio, and differential abundances were assessed; correlations with clinical data were quantified.
Main Results:
- Obese children experienced a significant decrease in body mass index (BMI) z-score after the 6-month intervention.
- Specific bacteria, such as Bacteroides massiliensis, were enriched in obese children compared to NW controls.
- While correlations between Bacteroides-like operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and BMI z-score were found, neither F:B ratios nor overall OTU abundances changed uniformly with weight loss, indicating individualized responses.
Conclusions:
- Distinct gut microbiota profiles exist between obese and normal-weight children.
- The gut microbiota of obese children exhibits highly individualized responses to weight loss interventions over time.
Background:
Variations in gut microbiota composition and diversity have been associated with childhood adiposity, although most studies describing this have been cross-sectional in nature. Our objective was to evaluate associations between body weight and the gut microbiota over time in obese preschool-age children.
Methods:
Obese, preschool-age, Hispanic children provided stool samples at baseline and following a 6-month behavioral intervention. Normal-weight (NW) children also provided stool samples. Stool microbial community composition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Estimates of within-sample diversity were calculated on operational taxonomic unit (OTU) count data, and the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes (F:B) ratio was determined on per-sample basis. Estimates of between-sample diversity were generated using the weighted Unifrac metric, differential abundances were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and associations of microbiome features with clinical data were quantified using Spearman rank correlations.
Results:
For the 30 obese children sampled preintervention and postintervention, a decrease in body mass index (BMI) z-score from 2.55 to 2.34 (p = 0.004, paired t-test) was observed. Bacteroides massiliensis was significantly enriched in obese children, while B. plebius was significantly enriched in NW controls. We identified significant correlations between multiple Bacteroides-like OTUs and BMI z-score, but neither F:B ratios nor OTU-level abundances were altered in conjunction with weight change in the obese children. Rather, highly individualized OTU-level responses were observed.
Conclusions:
Although differences exist between the gut microbiota of obese and NW children, we detected highly individualized responses of the gut microbiota of obese children over time and following weight loss.
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