Cited by 148Gut microbiota and healthInfant Nutrition and HealthInfant Health and Development

Gut microbiota composition is associated with temperament traits in infants

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Aatsinki, Anna-Katariina, Lahti, Leo, Uusitupa, Henna-Maria, Munukka, Eveliina, Keskitalo, Anniina, Nolvi, Saara, O'Mahony, Siobhain, Pietilä, Sami +4 more·2019·Brain Behavior and Immunity

Abstract

BACKGROUND: One of the key behavioral phenotypes in infancy are different temperament traits, and certain early life temperament traits have been shown to precede later mental health problems. Differences in the gut microbiota composition (GMC) have been suggested to link with neurodevelopment. For example, toddler temperament traits have been found to associate with differences in GMC; however, studies in infants are lacking although infancy is a rapid period of neurodevelopment as well as GM development. Thus, we aimed to investigate association between infant GMC and temperament. METHODS: The study population (n = 301, 53% boys) was drawn from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Stool samples were collected from the 2.5-month-old infants and sequenced with 16S Illumina MiSeq platform. GMC taxonomic composition (at Genus and OTU level), observed sample clusters, diversity and richness were investigated in relation to the maternal reports of Infant Behavior Questionnaire -Revised (IBQ-R) at the age of 6 months. RESULTS: Three sample clusters (Bifidobacterium/Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, V. Dispar) based on GMC were identified, of which Bifidobacterium/Enterobacteriaceae-cluster presented with higher scores on the IBQ-R main dimension regulation and its subscale duration of orienting compared to Bacteroides-cluster. The clusters associated with temperament in a sex-dependent manner. The IBQ-R main dimension surgency (positive emotionality) was associated positively both with genus Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. Alpha diversity had a negative association with negative emotionality and fear reactivity. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating associations, but not causal connections, between GMC and temperament in young infants in a prospective design.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.05.035

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  • The composition of the infant gut microbiota at a young age has been associated with subsequent cognitive development and behavioral outcomes later in infancy.

    “While the composition of the infant gut microbiota at a young age has been associated with subsequent cognitive development and behavioral outcomes later in infancy (266, 267), whether these relations are mediated by breast-feeding and early dietary intake is still being investigated.”

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Authors
Aatsinki, A.-K., Lahti, L., Uusitupa, H.-M., Munukka, E., Keskitalo, A., Nolvi, S., O'Mahony, S., Pietilä, S., Elo, L. L., Eerola, E., Karlsson, H., & Karlsson, L.
Affiliations
  • University of Turku (FI)
  • Åbo Akademi University (FI)
Corresponding author
Aatsinki, Anna-Katariina
Venue
Brain Behavior and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-08
Volume
80
Pages
849-858
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2945924223
Cited by
148
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 5
FWCI
5.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (acceptedVersion)
  • UTUPub (University of Turku) (submittedVersion)
  • Cork Open Research Archive (University College Cork, Ireland) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Waterloo Foundation
  • Academy of Finland
  • Yrjö Jahnssonin Säätiö
  • Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
Keywords
gut microbiota, infant temperament, brain development, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, positive affectivity, negative affectivity, fear reactivity, alpha diversity, sex differences, stool microbiome
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Adult, Feces, Female, Finland, Humans, Infant, Male, Mothers, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Temperament, Cohort Studies

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