Exposure to air pollution influences the development of a baby’s gut flora during the first six months of life, which might then have multiple repercussions on his health, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder have concluded. , in the USA.
An altered microbiota might notably increase the risk for the child of suffering from allergies, obesity and diabetes. These changes might even interfere with his brain development, they warned, noting that the byproducts of the bacteria that make up the gut flora can influence such diverse facets of health as appetite, immunity and cognition. , and have also been associated with chronic health problems.
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In a press release, the American researchers indicate that they studied regarding 100 babies who had been mainly breastfed and then used the postcode of these babies to measure their exposure to air pollution, in particular to ultra-fine particles PM2.5 and PM10, produced by factories and construction sites among others, and nitrogen dioxide, which is mainly produced by cars.
The study found that greater exposure to air pollution was associated with a microbiota with a more inflammatory profile, they point out, explaining that children most exposed to PM2.5 particles had 60% less of a bacterium that fights inflammation and may contribute to brain development, while those most exposed to PM10 particles had 85% more of an inflammatory bacteria. The authors of this study, whose results were published by the scientific journal “Gut Microbes”, recommend that women who wish to protect their baby’s microbiota from the effects of pollution should breastfeed for as long as possible.
With MAP
