Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
Intestinal Microbial Composition of Children in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Probiotics to Treat Acute
Rachael G Horne1, Stephen B Freedman2, Kathene C Johnson-Henry1
1Cell Biology Program, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Insights
Probiotics showed no significant impact on the gut microbiota of young children with gastroenteritis. Age and bacterial infection were the primary drivers of changes in their intestinal microbiome composition.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Gut health
Background:
- The intestinal microbiome in pre-schoolers is not well understood.
- Investigating factors influencing gut microbiota composition in young children is crucial for understanding their health trajectory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota of children under 4 years old with acute gastroenteritis.
- To identify key factors influencing gut microbiome composition and function in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 70 children (32 placebo, 38 probiotics) with stool sample collection at baseline, day 5, and day 28.
- 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing for microbiota composition and predictive metagenomics for deduced functions.
Main Results:
- Probiotics were detected at day 5 but had no lasting effects on the gut microbiota.
- Bacterial infection and participant age were significant factors influencing microbiota composition, diversity, and function.
- Infants under 1 year had lower bacterial diversity compared to older pre-schoolers.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota composition and function in young children are primarily influenced by age and the presence of bacterial infections, rather than probiotic intervention.
- Age-related maturation significantly impacts the gut microbiome, with potential long-term health implications.
Abstract:
Compositional analysis of the intestinal microbiome in pre-schoolers is understudied. Effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota were evaluated in children under 4-years-old presenting to an emergency department with acute gastroenteritis. Included were 70 study participants (n=32 placebo, n=38 probiotics) with stool specimens at baseline (day 0), day 5, and after a washout period (day 28). Microbiota composition and deduced functions were profiled using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and predictive metagenomics, respectively. Probiotics were detected at day 5 of administration but otherwise had no discernable effects, whereas detection of bacterial infection (P<0.001) and participant age (P<0.001) had the largest effects on microbiota composition, microbial diversity, and deduced bacterial functions. Participants under 1 year had lower bacterial diversity than older aged pre-schoolers; compositional changes of individual bacterial taxa were associated with maturation of the gut microbiota. Advances in age were associated with differences in gut microbiota composition and deduced microbial functions, which have the potential to impact health later in life.
Clinical Trial Registration:
www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT01853124.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents