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Timing of complementary feeding is associated with gut microbiota diversity and composition and short chain fatty acid concentrations over the first year of life.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Differding, MK; Benjamin-Neelon, SE; Hoyo, C; Østbye, T; Mueller, NT
Published in: BMC Microbiol
March 11, 2020

BACKGROUND: Early introduction of complementary foods has been associated with various immune disorders, oxidative stress, and obesity in childhood. The gut microbiota and the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) they produce are postulated to be on the causal pathway. The objective of this study was to determine if early complementary feeding (i.e. consumption of solids or non-water/formula liquids at or before 3 months) is prospectively associated with infant gut microbiota composition, diversity and SCFAs at 3 and 12 months of age in the Nurture birth cohort. RESULTS: Mother-infant dyads in the early complementary feeding group (n = 18) had similar baseline characteristics to those in the later feeding group (n = 49). We assessed differential abundance of microbial taxa (measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 region) by timing of complementary feeding using beta-binomial regression models (considering a two-sided FDR corrected p-value of < 0.05 as significant), and we fittted linear regression models to assess the association between early complementary feeding and SCFA concentrations (quantified using gas chromatography). After multivariable adjustment for breastfeeding, delivery method, birth weight, and gestational age, there were 13 differentially abundant microbial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) by timing of introduction to complementary foods at 3 months and 20 ASVs at 12 months. Infants introduced to complementary foods early (vs. later) had higher concentrations of the SCFA butyric acid (mean difference = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.27, 1.04, p < 0.01) and total SCFAs (mean difference = 38.8, 95% CI: 7.83, 69.7) at 12 months. Bilophila wadsworthia and Lachnospiraceae Roseburia were associated with early (vs. later) complementary feeding and with higher butyric acid concentrations at 3 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that early (vs. later) introduction to complementary foods is associated with altered gut microbiota composition and butyric acid concentrations measured in stool until at least 1 year of age. Further research is needed to determine if these changes mediate future development of metabolic and immune conditions.

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Published In

BMC Microbiol

DOI

EISSN

1471-2180

Publication Date

March 11, 2020

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

56

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Prospective Studies
  • Phylogeny
  • Mothers
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Infant
 

Citation

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Differding, M. K., Benjamin-Neelon, S. E., Hoyo, C., Østbye, T., & Mueller, N. T. (2020). Timing of complementary feeding is associated with gut microbiota diversity and composition and short chain fatty acid concentrations over the first year of life. BMC Microbiol, 20(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-01723-9
Differding, Moira K., Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon, Cathrine Hoyo, Truls Østbye, and Noel T. Mueller. “Timing of complementary feeding is associated with gut microbiota diversity and composition and short chain fatty acid concentrations over the first year of life.BMC Microbiol 20, no. 1 (March 11, 2020): 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-01723-9.
Differding, Moira K., et al. “Timing of complementary feeding is associated with gut microbiota diversity and composition and short chain fatty acid concentrations over the first year of life.BMC Microbiol, vol. 20, no. 1, Mar. 2020, p. 56. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/s12866-020-01723-9.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC Microbiol

DOI

EISSN

1471-2180

Publication Date

March 11, 2020

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

56

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Prospective Studies
  • Phylogeny
  • Mothers
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Infant