Cited by 54Gut microbiota and healthInfant Nutrition and HealthProbiotics and Fermented Foods

Development of the gut microbiota in healthy children in the first ten years of life: associations with internalizing and externalizing behavior

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Ou, Yangwenshan, Belzer, Clara, Smidt, Hauke, de Weerth, Carolina·2022·Gut Microbes

Abstract

Background Increasing evidence indicates that psychopathological disorders are associated with the gut microbiota. However, data are largely lacking from long-term longitudinal birth cohorts, especially those comprising low-risk healthy individuals. Therefore, this study aims to describe gut microbiota development in healthy children from birth till age 10 years, as well as to investigate potential associations with internalizing and externalizing behavior.Results Fecal microbial composition of participants in an ongoing longitudinal study (N = 193) was analyzed at 1, 3 and 4 months, and 6 and 10 years of age by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Based on these data, three clusters were identified in infancy, two of which were predominated by Bifidobacterium. In childhood, four clusters were observed, two of which increased in prevalence with age. One of the childhood clusters, similar to an enterotype, was highly enriched in genus-level taxon Prevotella_9. Breastfeeding had marked associations with microbiota composition up till age 10, implying an extended role in shaping gut microbial ecology. Microbial clusters were not associated with behavior. However, Prevotella_9 in childhood was positively related to mother-reported externalizing behavior at age 10; this was validated in child reports.Conclusions This study validated previous findings on Bifidobacterium-enriched and -depleted clusters in infancy. Importantly, it also mapped continued development of gut microbiota in middle childhood. Novel associations between gut microbial composition in the first 10 years of life (especially Prevotella_9), and externalizing behavior at age 10 were found. Replications in other cohorts, as well as follow-up assessments, will help determine the significance of these findings.

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Authors
Ou, Y., Belzer, C., Smidt, H., & de Weerth, C.
Affiliations
  • Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • Radboud University Medical Center
Venue
Gut Microbes
Published
2022-02-19
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
2038853-2038853
ISSN
  • 1949-0976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1949-0984
OpenAlex
W4213081334
Cited by
54
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 3
FWCI
3.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Gut Microbes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
no funding associated
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 development, children, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, Prevotella 9, Bifidobacterium, enterotypes, breastfeeding, infancy, middle childhood, fecal microbiota
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Bifidobacterium, Child, Feces, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Prevotella, Microbiota

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