The new study looks at the combined effects of various factors that have previously been associated with changes in gut bacteria in infants. The work can be used to further understand the relationship between the gut microbiome in infancy and health problems in adulthood, including the development of allergies, asthma, weight problems, and other complexities.
A team of researchers from several Canadian universities measured the rates at which different types of bacteria colonized or decreased in number in the intestines of infants exposed to various combinations of three different factors at birth: birth by caesarean section, antibiotic treatment, and form of nutrition. It was important for scientists to take into account the combined effect, because. combinations of these factors are common. For example, for a caesarean section, the mother always receives a dose of antibiotics, and breastfeeding is often difficult. Previous studies have explored this relationship, but the new study used statistical analysis to detect statistically significant changes in bacterial composition in children aged three months to one year. . In particular, it was possible to determine the rate of change in the composition of bacteria in this crucial first year of life of infants. All children undergo a series of changes in their intestines from the moment of birth. So, in children who are born without surgical interventions, drink breast milk and are not exposed to antibiotics, bacteria, in general, develop in approximately the same scenario. From birth to the first few months of life, the gut is dominated by a category of bacteria known as Proteobacteria . At 3-6 months their number decreases and the number of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes increases .
The bacteriological composition of the intestines of one hundred and sixty-six infants included in a large study was studied. The scientists sequenced the genes of various bacterial strains and used the method of statistical analysis to look for patterns in the genetic composition at different points. In general, a general pattern was observed for all infants, but some deviations were found depending on how the child was born and what he was fed. certain health conditions, ranging from food allergies such as peanut allergies, to obesity, metabolic problems, and asthma. So what should mothers who have a caesarean section for medical reasons do? According to scientists, there are some areas of research that can be useful in developing methods to counteract these factors. In the meantime, there is some evidence that breastfeeding helps reduce these changes.