Abstract
Objective:
To investigate whether the intestinal microbiota composition in early infancy is associated with subsequent weight development in children.
Methods:
Analyses were conducted within the KOALA Birth Cohort Study (n=2834). This cohort originates from two recruitments groups: pregnant women with a conventional lifestyle (no selection based on lifestyle) and pregnant women recruited through alternative channels (organic shops, anthroposophic clinicians/midwives, Steiner schools and relevant magazines). From 909 one-month-old infants, fecal samples were collected and analyzed by quantitative PCR targeting bifidobacteria, Bacteroides fragilis group, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Lactobacilli and total bacteria counts. Between the ages of 1 and 10 years, parent-reported weight and height was collected at 7 time points. Age- and gender-standardized body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equation.
Results:
Colonization with B. fragilis group was borderline significantly associated with a higher BMI z-score of 0.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): −0.02 to 0.31), in the conventional subcohort. After stratification for fiber intake (Pforinteraction=0.003), colonization with B. fragilis group was associated with a 0.34 higher BMI z-score among children with a low-fiber intake in this subcohort (95% CI: 0.17–0.53). Higher counts among colonized children were positively associated with BMI z-score only in children within the conventional subcohort and a high-fiber diet (BMI z-score 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.14), but inversely associated in children with a low-fiber diet (BMI z-score −0.05; 95% CI: −0.10 to 0.00), and in children recruited through alternative channels (BMI z-score −0.10; 95% CI: −0.17 to −0.03). The other bacteria were not associated with BMI z-scores, regardless of subcohort.
Conclusion:
Using a targeted approach, we conclude that the intestinal microbiota, particularly the B. fragilis group, is associated with childhood weight development. To identify the potential impact of additional bacterial taxa, further prospective studies applying an unconstrained in-depth characterization of the microbiota are needed.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the children and parents who participated in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. The following sponsors contributed to data collection for the present study: Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw Grant No. 2100.0090), Netherlands Asthma Foundation (Grants No. 3.2.03.48 and No. 3.2.07.022), Netherlands Heart Foundation (Grant No. 2008B112), Triodos Foundation, Phoenix Foundation, Raphaël Foundation, Iona Foundation, Foundation for the Advancement of Heilpedagogiek, Royal Friesland Foods (currently FrieslandCampina); Netherlands Sugar Foundation and the Ministry of Economic affairs, all in The Netherlands. The sponsors had no influence on the analysis and reporting of the present study.
Author Contributions
LEJM Scheepers performed the literature search, carried out the statistical analyses, wrote the manuscript with the help of J Penders and ICW Arts and approved the final manuscript as submitted; J Penders contributed to the design of the study and collection of the data, performed the literature search, interpreted the data, contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; C Mbakwa Akwi contributed to the analyses and interpretation of the data, reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; C Thijs was the principal investigator and was responsible for the design and conduct of the study, contributed to the collection of the data, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; M Mommers contributed to the design of the study and collection of the data, critically reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; ICW Arts performed the literature search, interpreted the data, contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted.
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Scheepers, L., Penders, J., Mbakwa, C. et al. The intestinal microbiota composition and weight development in children: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. Int J Obes 39, 16–25 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.178
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