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Diverse intestinal microbiota linked to eczema in children
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Children with eczema were found to exhibit more diverse microbiota in their guts than children without eczema, indicating that differences in microbiota composition were associated with eczema.
Although prior studies have indicated associations between the composition of intestinal microbiota and atopic diseases, many have only addressed the microbiota composition preceding the development of atopic disease rather than those in infants who have already developed eczema.
“Few studies have observed microbiota alterations in allergic children (ie, after the onset of allergy) with also conflicting results,” the researchers wrote. “[Additionally,] the administration of specific probiotic bacteria during pregnancy and/or during the first months of life has been shown to reduce the risk of atopy, especially atopic eczema. However, some studies have failed to find any connection between the microbiota composition and development of atopic eczema or to confirm the role of probiotics in prevention of atopic diseases.”
To characterize the diversity and temporal changes of intestinal microbiota in early childhood and to classify specific bacterial groups associated with eczema, the researchers used quantitative PCR analysis to evaluate fecal microbiota from 34 infants (15 with eczema and 19 from a healthy control cohort) at 6 months and 18 months.
According to results of the analysis, children with eczema harbored a more diverse total microbiota than control patients as assessed by the Simpson’s reciprocal diversity index of the microarray profiles.
Although composition of the microbiota did not differ between study groups at age of 6 months, there were significant differences at age of 18 months (P=.01); at this age, healthy children exhibited three times the number of the Bacteroidetes group (P=.01). In particular, the researchers observed that the microbiota of children with eczema had increased abundance of the Clostridium clusters IV and XIVa, typically abundant in adults.
“Our results also suggest that in children at high-risk for atopic disease, a diverse adult-type microbiota in too early childhood may be a potential risk factor and further strengthen the importance of early microbiota characterization and potential dietary modification,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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