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Impact of Infant Feeding Mode on Gut Microbiome Composition in Early Life: Evidence from an Egyptian Cohort

Shorok ELHindi1, Salah Abdalla2, Marwa M Azab2

  • 1Department of microbiology and immunology, Faculty of pharmacy, Port-Said University, Port-Said, Egypt. Shorok.ELHindi@pharm.psu.edu.eg.

Scientific Reports
|August 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Infant gut microbiome composition in Egyptian babies is strongly influenced by feeding type. Breastfeeding promotes higher microbial diversity and richness compared to formula feeding, supporting infant health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Infant immunology
  • Gut microbiota development

Background:

  • The infant gut microbiome is crucial for immune and metabolic development.
  • Limited data exists on Middle Eastern infant gut microbiomes.
  • Feeding practices significantly impact early microbial colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate feeding-related differences in the gut microbiome of Egyptian infants (1-6 months).
  • To characterize the impact of breastfeeding, formula feeding, and mixed feeding on infant gut microbiota composition and diversity.

Main Methods:

  • 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 region) of infant stool samples.
  • Bioinformatic analysis using QIIME2 for sequence processing and taxonomic assignment.
  • Statistical analysis including LEfSe, alpha/beta diversity, and network analysis to compare feeding groups.

Main Results:

  • Feeding mode was the primary determinant of gut microbiome structure.
  • Breastfeeding was linked to higher microbial richness, diversity, and a balanced phylum distribution.
  • Formula feeding resulted in lower diversity, Actinobacteria dominance, and absence of Bacteroidetes.
  • Mixed feeding showed the highest alpha diversity with a Firmicutes-dominated profile.

Conclusions:

  • Feeding practices profoundly shape the infant gut microbiome in Egyptian infants.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with superior microbial richness and ecological structure.
  • Formula feeding leads to reduced diversity and a narrower microbial community profile.
  • Findings support promoting breastfeeding for optimal infant immune development.

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