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Published on: December 31, 2017
Parent-child microbiota relationships involved in childhood obesity: A CORALS ancillary study
Begoña de Cuevillas1, Jose I Riezu-Boj2, Fermín I Milagro3
1Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, Center for Nutrition Research, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Insights
Family gut bacteria composition may influence childhood obesity. This study identified five bacteria potentially linked to family weight status and useful for predicting obesity.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Human genetics
- Pediatric health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Family-based factors, including gut microbiota, may play a role in childhood obesity.
- Understanding these familial links is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fecal microbiota composition in parent-offspring pairs and body weight status.
- To identify specific bacterial taxa that may link family members' body weight.
- To explore the predictive potential of gut bacteria for childhood obesity within families.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fecal microbiota in 146 parent-offspring pairs using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.
- Categorization of pairs into four groups based on parent and child weight status (normal weight, overweight/obesity).
- Statistical modeling, including logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves, to identify predictive bacterial markers.
Main Results:
- Specific bacteria, including Catenibacterium mitsuokai, Prevotella stercorea, Desulfovibrio piger, Massiliprevotella massiliensis, and Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens, were associated with family weight status.
- A positive correlation was found between parental Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens and offspring Massiliprevotella massiliensis in relation to body weight.
- These bacterial associations suggest a potential role in familial weight transmission.
Conclusions:
- Five gut bacteria are identified as potentially involved in family weight status relationships.
- These bacterial taxa may serve as predictive markers for childhood obesity.
- Further research into these microbial links could inform targeted obesity prevention strategies.
Objectives:
Childhood obesity continues to rise worldwide. Family gut microorganisms may be associated with childhood obesity. The aim of the study was to analyze bacterial similarities in fecal microbiota composition between parent-offspring pairs as linked to body weight.
Methods:
A total of 146 father/mother and offspring pairs were categorized into four groups according to the weight status of the parent-child pair as follows: group 1, parent and child with normal weight; group 2, parent and child with overweight/obesity; group 3, parent with normal weight and child with overweight/obesity; group 4, parent with overweight/obesity and child with normal weight. Anthropometric measurements and lifestyle assessments were performed in all participants. Microbiota characteristics were determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Logistic regression models were performed to determine whether the abundance of any bacteria was able to predict childhood obesity. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curves were fitted to define the relative diagnostic strength of bacterial taxa for the correct identification of childhood obesity.
Results:
The absence/abundance of Catenibacterium mitsuokai, Prevotella stercorea, Desulfovibrio piger, Massiliprevotella massiliensis, and Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens was involved in body weight family associations. A positive relationship between P. succinatutens richness from parents and M. massiliensis from children was observed with regard to body weight status (odds ratio, 1.14, P = 0.013).
Conclusions:
This study describes five potential gut bacteria that may be putatively involved in family weight status relationships and appear to be useful for predicting obesity.
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