Large infant study demonstrates the importance of a mature microbiome

The maturation of the gut microbiome during the first year of life is of key importance regarding allergy protection. Those with a mature microbiome develop less allergy-related wheezing and asthma in early childhood.

Previous research has shown that maturation of the gut microbiome is inversely associated with the risk of asthma at age 5 in the offspring of mothers with asthma [1]. After birth, the diversity of microbiota increases and matures as babies grow older and are exposed to microbiota from other sources such as other children, animals, and different foods.
“In our study, we examined the relationship between the maturation of the infant gut microbiome in the first year of life and subsequent atopic wheeze in childhood in the Barwon Infant Study (BIS) cohort,” explained Dr Yuan Gao (Deakin University, Australia) [2]. The BIS has been running in Australia since 2010 and recruited 1,074 babies between 2010 and 2013, all of whom were followed up. At the 1-year and 4-year post-natal reviews, the BIS investigators evaluate whether children have developed allergy-related wheezing or asthma in the previous 12 months, according to reports of their parents. In addition, skin-prick tests are performed to test for food allergies or airborne substances.
For the current study, Dr Gao and her colleagues selected a sub-group of 323 children of the BIS cohort and collected faecal samples 1 month after birth, 6 months after birth, and at 1 year of age. Microbiota in the samples were assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. With the results, the researchers calculated a “microbiota-by-age z-score” (MAZ), which is a mathematical estimate of the maturity of the children’s gut microbiome.
Each standard deviation increase in MAZ at 1 year of age was associated with decreased odds of atopic wheeze at 1 and 4 years. Babies with a more mature gut microbiome had about 50% reduced risk of allergy-related wheeze at 1 and 4 years (see Figure). In contrast, this association was not found in MAZ scores at 1 or 6 months. “The take-home message is that advanced maturation of the infant gut microbiome in late infancy is associated with reduced odds of atopic wheeze during childhood,” Dr Gao concluded.

Figure: Infant gut microbiota-by-age z-score in a subgroup of the Barwon Infant Study [2]

1. Stokholm J, et al. Nat Commun 2018:141.
2. Gao Y. Gut microbiota maturity in infancy and atopic wheeze in childhood. Abstract 1434, ERS International Congress 2023, 9–13 September, Milan, Italy.

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Posted on 29 October 202329 October 2023