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Published on: August 7, 2017
Microbiota of the first-pass meconium and subsequent atopic and allergic disorders in children
Katja Kielenniva1, Sofia Ainonen1, Petri Vänni2,3
1PEDEGO (Pediatrics, Dermatology, Gynecology, Obstetrics) Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Insights
The first gut microbiota in meconium was not linked to allergy development in children by age four. Further research is needed to confirm if early gut bacteria influence childhood allergic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Pediatric allergy
- Gut health
Background:
- Emerging cohort studies suggest a link between gut microbiota composition and childhood allergic diseases.
- The first-pass meconium represents the initial gut microbiota, yet its role in allergic disease development remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the bacterial composition of first-pass meconium and the development of allergic diseases up to four years of age.
Main Methods:
- A prospective birth cohort study design was employed.
- Bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to analyze meconium microbiota composition.
- Allergic diseases were assessed up to age four using standardized questionnaires via online surveys or telephone.
Main Results:
- Meconium microbiota diversity and composition showed no association with atopic eczema, wheezing, or cow's milk allergy by age four.
- Principal components analysis did not reveal distinct meconium microbiome clusters related to wheezing or cow's milk allergy.
Conclusions:
- No evidence was found linking first-pass meconium gut microbiota composition to atopic manifestations by age four.
- Larger-scale studies are recommended to definitively rule out any potential relationship between early meconium microbiota and childhood allergies.
Background:
Some cohort studies have suggested that gut microbiota composition is associated with allergic diseases in children. The microbiota of the first-pass meconium, which forms before birth, represents the first gut microbiota that is easily available for research and little is known about any relationship with allergic disease development.
Objective:
We investigated whether the bacterial composition of the first-pass meconium is associated with the development of allergic diseases before 4 years of age.
Methods:
Prospective birth cohort study. Bacterial composition of first-pass meconium was analysed using bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Atopic and allergic diseases were evaluated via online survey or telephone to age 4 years, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire.
Results:
During a 6-week period in 2014, 312 children were born at the Central Finland Central Hospital. Meconium was collected from 212 at a mean of 8-hour age. Outcome data at 4 years were available for 177 (83%) children, and 159 of these had sufficient amplification of bacterial DNA in meconium. Meconium microbiota composition, including diversity indices and relative abundances of the main phyla and genera, was not associated with subsequent atopic eczema, wheezing or cow's milk allergy. Principal components analysis did not identify any clustering of the meconium microbiomes of children with respect to wheezing or cow's milk allergy.
Conclusions:
We found no evidence that gut microbiota composition of first-pass meconium is associated with atopic manifestations to age 4 years. However, larger studies are needed to fully exclude a relationship.
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