0
0
In a recent investigation, substantial correlations have been unearthed between the infant gut microbiome and eczema, providing a foundation for potential eczema prevention and treatment through the regulation of gut microbiota. These research outcomes have been documented in the journal mSystems, affiliated with the American Society for Microbiology.
Eczema’s growing prevalence presents a concerning issue, and our research suggests that it may stem from undesirable alterations in the gut bacterial makeup. Dr. Paul Chan, the principal investigator of the study and a microbiology professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, emphasizes the potential significance of the first year of life in rectifying the gut bacteria composition to a more favorable state.
Dr. Chan and his team enlisted expectant mothers who were nearing the end of their pregnancies to participate in their groundbreaking study. They meticulously collected data regarding the participants’ health, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related events. After the babies were born, the researchers visited the mothers to gather information on their dietary habits, overall health, and medication usage. To monitor the newborns’ health and any potential eczema developments, follow-up clinics were established.
Over the course of the study, the researchers sequenced a total of 713 stool samples obtained at nine different time points, ranging from birth to three years of age. This allowed them to characterize the evolution and influencers of the gut microbiome in a group of 112 full-term Chinese children.
The study outcomes disclosed notable changes in the composition and diversity (both alpha and beta) of the gut microbiota during the initial three years of life. Notably, the researchers pinpointed the mode of delivery, method of infant feeding, and the use of antibiotics during childbirth as the primary factors influencing the early-life gut microbiome. These effects were found to persist for up to 12 months.
Of significant importance, through a nested case-control study, they demonstrated that alterations in the infant gut microbiota occurred before the onset of eczema. Intriguingly, they identified a reduction in Bacteroides and an increase in Clostridium sensu stricto 1 in the gut microbiomes of one-year-old infants with eczema. These same patterns were also observed in infants delivered via Caesarean section during the same timeframes, suggesting a potential role of the gut microbiota in the previously reported associations between C-section births and an elevated risk of eczema.
Dr. Chan commented on their findings, noting, “Our study reveals a profound transformation in the composition of gut bacteria in infants during the initial three years of life. The method of childbirth, feeding practices, and the administration of antibiotics in the perinatal period all exert an influence on the composition of gut bacteria. What’s particularly noteworthy is that we identified distinct alterations in gut bacteria prior to the onset of eczema in infants. Interestingly, these same bacterial changes were also evident in infants delivered via Caesarean section. However, the potential connection between C-section delivery and eczema requires further investigation. These observations suggest that gut bacteria may hold a key role in the prevention or treatment of eczema.”
