Cited by 2,232Gut microbiota and healthInfant Nutrition and HealthProbiotics and Fermented Foods

Factors influencing the composition of the intestinal microbiota in early infancy

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Penders, John, Thijs, Carel, Vink, Cornelis, Stelma, Foekje F., Snijders, Bianca, Kummeling, Ischa, van den Brandt, Piet A., Stobberingh, Ellen E.·2006·PEDIATRICS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of a broad range of external influences to the gut microbiotic composition in early infancy. METHODS: Fecal samples from 1032 infants at 1 month of age, who were recruited from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study in the Netherlands, were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for the enumeration of bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Bacteroides fragilis group, lactobacilli, and total bacterial counts. Information on potential determinants of the gut microbiotic composition was collected with repeated questionnaires. The associations between these factors and the selected gut bacteria were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Infants born through cesarean section had lower numbers of bifidobacteria and Bacteroides, whereas they were more often colonized with C difficile, compared with vaginally born infants. Exclusively formula-fed infants were more often colonized with E coli, C difficile, Bacteroides, and lactobacilli, compared with breastfed infants. Hospitalization and prematurity were associated with higher prevalence and counts of C difficile. Antibiotic use by the infant was associated with decreased numbers of bifidobacteria and Bacteroides. Infants with older siblings had slightly higher numbers of bifidobacteria, compared with infants without siblings. CONCLUSIONS: The most important determinants of the gut microbiotic composition in infants were the mode of delivery, type of infant feeding, gestational age, infant hospitalization, and antibiotic use by the infant. Term infants who were born vaginally at home and were breastfed exclusively seemed to have the most "beneficial" gut microbiota (highest numbers of bifidobacteria and lowest numbers of C difficile and E coli).

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Crossref · 10.1542/peds.2005-2824

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Authors
Penders, J., Thijs, C., Vink, C., Stelma, F. F., Snijders, B., Kummeling, I., van den Brandt, P. A., & Stobberingh, E. E.
Affiliations
  • Maastricht University (NL)
  • Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
  • Department of Epidemiology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
Venue
PEDIATRICS
Published
2006-08-01
Volume
118
Issue
2
Pages
511-521
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
OpenAlex
W2096891797
Cited by
2,232
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 47 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 88 · 2023: 94 · 2022: 127 · 2021: 148 · 2020: 162 · 2019: 142 · 2018: 161 · 2017: 142 · 2016: 163 · 2015: 168 · 2014: 140 · 2013: 134 · 2012: 118
FWCI
17.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
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
infant gut microbiota, early infancy, mode of delivery, cesarean section, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides fragilis group, lactobacilli, preterm birth, infant hospitalization, antibiotic use, sibling effects, gestational age
MeSH terms
Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Antifungal Agents, Bacteria, Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacterium, Breast Feeding, Cesarean Section, Escherichia coli, Feces, Female, Fever, Gestational Age, Home Childbirth, Hospitalization, Humans, Infant, Infant Food, Infant, Newborn, Intestines, Lactobacillus, Male, Netherlands, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Species Specificity, Cohort Studies, Clostridioides difficile, Siblings, Delivery, Obstetric

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