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Associations Between the Gut Microbiota and Internalizing Behaviors in Preschool Children
Marcel van de Wouw1, Yanan Wang, Matthew L Workentine
1From the Departments of Pediatrics (van de Wouw, Wang, Vaghef-Mehrabani, Dewey, Tomfohr-Madsen, Giesbrecht) and Psychology (Tomfohr-Madsen, Giesbrecht), University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) (Dewey, Reimer, Tomfohr-Madsen, Giesbrecht); and Department of Community Health Sciences (Dewey, Giesbrecht), UCVM Bioinformatics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Workentine), Faculty of Kinesiology (Reimer), and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine (Reimer), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
The gut microbiota is linked to internalizing behaviors in preschoolers. Lower gut microbial diversity and specific short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) correlate with increased internalizing behaviors and somatic complaints.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome Research
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Emerging evidence suggests a gut-brain axis connection influencing mental health.
- The role of the gut microbiota in preschooler behavioral development remains largely unexplored.
- Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are key microbial metabolites with potential systemic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gut microbiota composition and internalizing/externalizing behaviors in preschool children.
- To identify specific microbial or metabolite patterns linked to behavioral issues.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples were collected from 248 typically developing children (3-5 years old) for gut microbiota and SCFA analysis.
- Parent-reported internalizing and externalizing behaviors were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist.
- Spearman correlations were employed to analyze associations, with subanalyses for children at risk for behavioral problems.
Main Results:
- A negative correlation was found between gut microbial alpha diversity and internalizing behaviors, including somatic complaints.
- Children at risk for internalizing problems exhibited decreased alpha diversity.
- Specific SCFAs (valerate, isobutyrate, acetate, butyrate) were significantly associated with internalizing behaviors and somatic complaints.
Conclusions:
- Novel associations between the gut microbiota and internalizing behaviors in preschoolers were identified.
- A significant relationship between somatic complaints and specific SCFAs (acetate, butyrate) was established.
- Interventions aimed at increasing SCFA production may represent a future therapeutic avenue for behavioral issues.
Objective:
Emerging evidence points toward a connection between mental health and the gut microbiota and its metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids). It is unknown whether the gut microbiota is associated with the development of mental health problems (e.g., internalizing or externalizing behaviors) in preschool children. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between the gut microbiota and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in preschool-aged children.
Methods:
A community sample of 248 typically developing children (3-5 years of age) provided a stool sample for gut microbiota and SCFA analysis. Parents reported child internalizing and externalizing behaviors using the Child Behavior Checklist. Associations between child behaviors and gut microbiota measures were analyzed using Spearman correlations followed by an adjustment for multiple testing, with subanalysis conducted in children clinically "at risk" for behavioral problems compared with those who were not.
Results:
There was a correlation between Shannon alpha diversity with internalizing behaviors (rs = -0.134, p = .035) and its subscale somatic complaints (rs = -0.144, p = .023). In addition, children clinically "at risk" for internalizing problems had decreased alpha diversity (U = 551, p = .017). Internalizing behaviors correlated with valerate and isobutyrate (rs = -0.147, p = .021; rs = -0.140, p = .028, respectively). Furthermore the somatic complaints subscale additionally correlated with acetate and butyrate (rs = -0.219, p = .001; rs = -0.241, p < .001, respectively). These findings were also present in children "at risk" for internalizing problems (U = 569, p = .026; U = 571, p = .028) and somatic complaints (U = 164, p = .004; U = 145, p = .001).
Conclusions:
These analyses reveal novel associations between internalizing behaviors and the gut microbiota in preschool children. Furthermore, a relationship between somatic complaints and acetate and butyrate was identified, indicating that interventions that increase SCFA production warrant future investigation.
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