BACKGROUND: Several reports have revealed that the first-pass meconium hosts a diverse microbiome, but its clinical significance is not known. OBJECTIVE: We designed a prospective population-based cohort study to evaluate whether the meconium microbiome predicts subsequent growth in children. METHODS: The study comprised 212 consecutive newborns with a meconium sample and a follow-up sample at 1 year of age. Trained nurses measured the children for weight and length using standardized techniques. We used next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene and machine-learning approach for the analysis. RESULTS: The children with overweight at 3 years of age differed in their meconium microbiome from those with normal weight, having a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes phylum (29% vs 15%, P = .013). Using the machine-learning approach, the gut microbiome at birth predicted subsequent overweight with area under the curve 0.70 (SD 0.04). A lower proportion of Staphylococcus at birth was associated with greater length/height at 1 year (ß = -.68, P = .029) and 2 years of age (β = -.74, P = .030). CONCLUSIONS: The microbiome of the first-pass meconium predicted subsequent overweight at the age of 3 years. The association between the gut microbiome and overweight appears to start already during pregnancy and at birth.
BACKGROUND: Several reports have revealed that the first-pass meconium hosts a diverse microbiome, but its clinical significance is not known. OBJECTIVE: We designed a prospective population-based cohort study to evaluate whether the meconium microbiome predicts subsequent growth in children. METHODS: The study comprised 212 consecutive newborns with a meconium sample and a follow-up sample at 1 year of age. Trained nurses measured the children for weight and length using standardized techniques. We used next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene and machine-learning approach for the analysis. RESULTS: The children with overweight at 3 years of age differed in their meconium microbiome from those with normal weight, having a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes phylum (29% vs 15%, P = .013). Using the machine-learning approach, the gut microbiome at birth predicted subsequent overweight with area under the curve 0.70 (SD 0.04). A lower proportion of Staphylococcus at birth was associated with greater length/height at 1 year (ß = -.68, P = .029) and 2 years of age (β = -.74, P = .030). CONCLUSIONS: The microbiome of the first-pass meconium predicted subsequent overweight at the age of 3 years. The association between the gut microbiome and overweight appears to start already during pregnancy and at birth.
Authors: Tanya L Alderete; Roshonda B Jones; Justin P Shaffer; Elizabeth A Holzhausen; William B Patterson; Elham Kazemian; Lida Chatzi; Rob Knight; Jasmine F Plows; Paige K Berger; Michael I Goran Journal: Gut Microbes Date: 2021 Jan-Dec
Authors: Katja Kielenniva; Sofia Ainonen; Petri Vänni; Niko Paalanne; Marjo Renko; Jarmo Salo; Mysore V Tejesvi; Tytti Pokka; Anna Maria Pirttilä; Terhi Tapiainen Journal: Clin Exp Allergy Date: 2022-03-03 Impact factor: 5.401
Authors: Alexander S F Berry; Meghann K Pierdon; Ana M Misic; Megan C Sullivan; Kevin O'Brien; Ying Chen; Samuel J Murray; Lydia A Ramharack; Robert N Baldassano; Thomas D Parsons; Daniel P Beiting Journal: Microbiome Date: 2021-06-27 Impact factor: 14.650