Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

21.3K

Effects of Fortified Formula Milk Supplementation on Neurocognitive Development and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in

Yifan Gong1,2, Xingwen Zhao3, Qi Zhang2

  • 1College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.

Nutrients
|April 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Fortified formula milk enhanced processing speed in preschoolers, linked to gut bacteria changes and improved propanoate metabolism. This suggests a role for the microbiota-gut-brain axis in early childhood cognitive development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Preschool neurodevelopment is crucial, but research on fortified formula's impact and microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanisms is limited.
  • Understanding how nutrition influences cognitive development in early childhood is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of multi-nutrient fortified formula on neurodevelopment in preschool children.
  • To explore potential microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanisms underlying these effects.

Main Methods:

  • A 9-month cluster-randomized, double-blind, controlled trial involving 120 healthy children aged 3-6 years.
  • Neurocognitive function assessed using WPPSI-IV; gut microbiota and fecal metabolomes analyzed.
  • Safety evaluated via anthropometry and blood biochemistry.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in Full Scale Intelligence Quotient, but significant improvement in Processing Speed Index (PSI) in the intervention group.
  • Increased gut microbial alpha diversity and Bifidobacterium abundance observed.
  • Elevated fecal 2-hydroxybutyric acid (2-HB) linked to propanoate metabolism; both Bifidobacterium and 2-HB positively associated with PSI improvement.

Conclusions:

  • Fortified formula milk improved processing speed in preschoolers.
  • This improvement is associated with gut ecosystem modulation, including Bifidobacterium enrichment and altered propanoate metabolism.
  • Preliminary evidence supports the microbiota-gut-brain axis role in nutritional cognitive programming in early childhood.
Abstract

Keywords:
cognitive functionfortified formula milkgut microbiotametabolomicsmicrobiota–gut–brain axispreschool childrenprocessing speed

More Related Videos

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings04:16

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings

Published on: February 7, 2025

1.0K
An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota07:15

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

10.7K

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
49
Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such...
122
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
42
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
1.2K
Probiotics01:22

Probiotics

Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...
231
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large 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...
92.5K