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The relationship between infant feeding types, gut microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and neurodevelopment in a
Heidi Sellmann1, Janet E Williams1, Klas Udekwu1
1University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.
Insights
Human milk (HM) feeding in piglets altered the gut microbiome composition compared to infant formula (IF). HM-fed piglets showed enhanced white matter development, suggesting a link between nutrition and neurodevelopment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Gastrointestinal microbiome research
- Neurodevelopmental biology
Background:
- The impact of infant nutrition on the developing gut microbiome, intestinal tract, and brain remains incompletely understood.
- Human milk (HM) is linked to improved immune and cognitive outcomes compared to infant formula (IF).
- A neonatal piglet model was employed to investigate feeding effects on the gut microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effects of HM versus IF on the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome.
- To assess the impact of HM versus IF on intestinal inflammation.
- To evaluate the influence of HM versus IF on brain oligodendrocyte maturation.
Main Methods:
- Piglets were fed either HM or IF for 28 days, with weekly fecal sample collection.
- GI tissues and brains were harvested for analysis.
- 16S rRNA sequencing analyzed fecal microbiome composition; intestinal inflammation markers (cytokines, calprotectin) and oligodendrocyte populations in brain tissue were quantified.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in fecal bacterial community composition were observed between HM and IF groups and over time.
- While no differences in intestinal inflammatory markers were found, HM-fed piglets exhibited higher numbers of mature oligodendrocytes in white matter.
- Specific bacterial genera were associated with changes over time and with intestinal inflammatory markers.
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding with HM or IF significantly alters piglet fecal bacterial composition over time.
- Human milk consumption is associated with enhanced white matter development in piglets.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms connecting nutrition, the gut microbiome, and neurodevelopment.
Background:
The influences of nutrition on the infant's developing gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome, intestinal tract, and brain is unclear. Human milk (HM) is associated with beneficial immune and cognitive development compared with infant formula (IF). This study used a neonatal piglet model to determine the effects of infant feeding exposures (HM vs IF) on the GI microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and brain oligodendrocyte maturation.
Methods:
Six pairs of piglets received HM or IF for 28 days. Fecal samples were collected weekly and GI regions (jejunum, ileum, and colon) and brains were harvested at necropsy. Fecal microbiome composition was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing. Intestinal inflammation was assessed via quantification of intestinal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and fecal calprotectin. Neurodevelopment was evaluated by quantifying mature and immature oligodendrocytes in gray and white matter.
Results:
Bacterial community composition differed between feeding groups (P < 0.002) and over time (P = 0.001). Various highly abundant genera were associated with changes over time (P < 0.05) and only Escherichia-Shigella was associated with feeding group by time interactions (P < 0.05). No differences were found in intestinal inflammatory markers between feeding types, but mature oligodendrocytes in white matter were higher in HM-fed piglets (P = 0.004). Various intestinal inflammatory markers and relatively highly abundant genera were significantly associated.
Conclusion:
Piglet fecal bacterial compositions differed by feeding group and over time, with several relatively highly abundant genera associated with intestinal inflammatory markers. Additionally, HM may support proper white matter development. Future research should investigate mechanisms underlying these relationships.
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