2023-05-22 15:00:00
A French study reveals that the composition and volume of gut bacteria in toddlers predict BMI at age 5.
The intestinal microbiota is made up of microorganisms from birth. From the first years of life, it gets richer or worse depending on diet, taking certain medications and many other factors. In recent years, research has established a link between the composition of the intestinal flora and diseases inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 1 diabetes and obesity.
A new study shows that changes in the microbiota from childhood predispose to obesity a few years later. The results were presented last week at the European Congress on Obesity in Dublin, Ireland, a statement reveals.
“bad” bacteria
A team of scientists led by Gaël Toubon from Inserm, Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, examined the gut microbiota of 512 French infants, including 143 born prematurely et 369 born at term. The children were followed from 2 to 5 years. Stool samples were taken at age 3.5 for analysis.
According to the authors, the composition and volume of gut bacteria in toddlers at 3.5 years are predictive of body mass index (BMI) at 5 years in both groups of newborns.
A significant presence of bacteria of the group Eubacterium hallii, Fusicatenibacter and the group Eubacterium ventriosum – has been identified as a risk factor for a higher BMI score. On the contrary, a greater number of bacteria Eggerthella, colixtribacter et Ruminococcaceae CAG-352 were associated with a lower BMI score.
“The reason these gut bacteria affect weight is thatthey regulate the amount of fat that we absorb”explains Gaël Toubon in the press release. “Children with a higher ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes will take in more calories and be more likely to gain weight.”
“Our results reveal how an imbalance in distinct bacterial groups can play an important role in the development of obesity”adds the author of the article.
Also, certain types of bacteria were also associated with changes in BMI between ages 2 and 5. This suggests that some were involved in the progression of the BMI score, while others, on the other hand, tried to slow down the phenomenon. “These results suggest that what matters with the gut microbiota is not just a question of which bacteria are involved, but also what they do.”
“The gut microbiota is emerging as an important early life factor capable of influencing weight gain during childhood and later in life.” Further research should be carried out to better target the good ones and bad bacteriabut also to determine when the microbiota becomes favorable to the development of obesity for strengthen preventive actions.
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