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Newborn gut microbiome associated with delivery, feeding methods
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Infant gut microbiome composition was associated with delivery and feeding methods, according to recent research in JAMA Pediatrics.
“We examined the associations between the intestinal microbiome of 6-week-old infants, delivery mode, and feeding method, including supplementation of breast milk feeding with formula,” Juliette C. Madan, MD, MS, of the division of neonatology in the department of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, and colleagues wrote. “We observed significant independent associations between the composition of the infant gut microbiome and both delivery mode and feeding method.”
In a prospective observational study, the researchers analyzed the gut microbiome composition of 102 infants by collecting stool samples at age 6 weeks, and infant diet was monitored via telephone questionnaires with caregivers. Delivery method was determined through review of medical records. The researchers also gathered information, such as infant medication exposure, and they excluded participants exposed to antibiotics due to their potential influence on gut microbiome.
Study results showed that 70 infants were born vaginally; the remainder were born via cesarean delivery. Differences in microbiome community composition were associated with delivery method (P < .001). Results also showed that 70 participants were exclusively breast-fed, six were exclusively formula-fed, and 26 were fed by both methods. Feeding method also influenced differences in microbiome community composition (P < .001). Overall, the researchers identified six individual bacterial genera that varied based on delivery mode.
Madan and colleagues noted that the differences in gut microbiome between vaginal and cesarean delivery method were much larger than those found between feeding method (P = .003).
“Our results will need to be replicated in larger multicenter studies and in prospective analyses,” Madan and colleagues wrote. “[Our analysis] suggests that there are other important drivers of microbiome community composition that remain to be identified in future analyses.” – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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