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Published on: July 31, 2019
Minimal Effects of Medium-Chain Triglyceride Supplementation on the Intestinal Microbiome Composition of Premature
Jesús A Romo1, Amanda B Arsenault2,3, Sonia S Laforce-Nesbitt2,3
1Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Insights
Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil supplementation in preterm infants did not alter gut bacterial diversity or composition. This finding suggests MCT oil may reduce fungal colonization without negatively impacting the infant microbiome.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Research
- Gastrointestinal Health
Background:
- Preterm infant gut microbiota is less diverse and prone to pathogens.
- Antibiotic use in preterm infants disrupts the microbiome and increases fungal infection risk.
- Previous research indicated medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil reduces gut Candida spp. in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of MCT oil supplementation on the bacterial microbiome in preterm infants.
- To determine if MCT supplementation affects gut bacterial diversity and composition.
- To assess if MCT supplementation influences the abundance of potential bacterial pathogens like Enterobacteriaceae.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 17 preterm infants receiving formula or human milk.
- Infants were randomized to receive either MCT oil supplementation or no supplementation.
- Fecal samples were collected at baseline, week 1, and week 3 for microbiome analysis using QIIME2 pipeline.
Main Results:
- MCT supplementation did not significantly alter overall microbiota diversity in the preterm infant gut.
- No significant changes were observed in the composition of bacterial genera or phyla.
- Importantly, MCT supplementation did not lead to an increase in the Enterobacteriaceae family, a group of potential pathogens.
Conclusions:
- MCT oil supplementation appears to be a safe intervention for preterm infants regarding bacterial microbiome composition.
- MCT oil shows potential for reducing fungal colonization without adversely affecting the gut bacterial community.
- Further research can explore MCT oil as a therapeutic strategy in neonatal care to manage dysbiosis and infections.
Abstract:
Compared to term infants, the microbiota of preterm infants is less diverse and often enriched for potential pathogens (e.g., members of the family Enterobacteriaceae). Additionally, antibiotics are frequently given to preterm infants, further destabilizing the microbiota and increasing the risk of fungal infections. In a previous communication, our group showed that supplementation of the premature infant diet with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil reduced the fungal burden of Candida spp. in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to determine whether MCT supplementation impacts the bacterial component of the microbiome. Pre-term infants (n = 17) receiving enteral feedings of either infant formula (n = 12) or human milk (n = 5) were randomized to MCT supplementation (n = 9) or no supplementation (n = 8). Fecal samples were taken at randomization and prior to MCT supplementation (Week 0), on days 5-7 (Week 1) and day 21 (Week 3). After DNA extraction from samples, the QIIME2 pipeline was utilized to measure community diversity and composition (genera and phyla). Our findings show that MCT supplementation did not significantly alter microbiota diversity or composition in the gastrointestinal tract. Importantly, there were no significant changes in the family Enterobacteriaceae, suggesting that MCT supplementation did not enrich for potential pathogens. MCT holds promise as a therapeutic intervention for reducing fungal colonization without significant impact on the bacterial composition of the host gastrointestinal tract.
