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The intestinal microbiota composition and weight development in children: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study
Open accessAbstract
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 (P(forinteraction) = 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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Metadata
- Authors
- Scheepers, L. E. J. M., Penders, J., Mbakwa, C. A., Thijs, C., Mommers, M., & Arts, I. C. W.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Scheepers, L E J M
- Venue
- International Journal of Obesity
- Published
- 2014-10-09
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 16-25
- ISSN
- 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5497
- OpenAlex
- W2000570799
- Cited by
- 162
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11
- FWCI
- 6.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- ZonMw ((2100.0090), 3.2.07.022)
- FrieslandCampina
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, childhood obesity, BMI z-score, Bacteroides fragilis group, infant gut colonization, dietary fiber intake, Bifidobacterium, lactobacilli, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Bacteroides fragilis, early infancy
- MeSH terms
- Bacteroides fragilis, Body Weight, Child, Child, Preschool, Diet, Escherichia coli, Feces, Female, Humans, Infant, Intestines, Lactobacillus, Life Style, Male, Netherlands, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cohort Studies, Weight Gain, Body Mass Index, Clostridioides difficile, Parenting, Pediatric Obesity
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