Gut Microbiota Profiles of Young South Indian Children: Child Sex-Specific Relations With Growth

Authors

Nirupama Shivakumar
Ambily Sivadas
Sarita Devi
Farook Jahoor
John McLaughlin
Craig P Smith
Anura V Kurpad
Arpita Mukhopadhyay

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Journal

PLoS One

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0251803

PMID

33989353

PMCID

PMC8121364

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-14-2021

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Bacteria, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Infant, Male, Sex Characteristics

Abstract

Gut microbiota has been implicated as a modifier of childhood growth. Here, 16S rRNA sequencing-based fecal microbiota profiles of 18-24 month old Indian children were evaluated (n = 41), in relation to their anthropometric parameters, intestinal permeability, body composition and total energy expenditure. Pathway analyses were conducted to assess microbial functions related to stunting, underweight and wasting. The fecal microbiota was enriched in Prevotella 9, Bifidobacterium and Escherichia-Shigella. Weight, weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) and weight-for-length Z-scores (WLZ), along with age, acted as covariates of microbiota variation specifically in boys (n = 23). Bifidobacterium longum subsp longum abundance was positively associated with WAZ while Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium breve abundances were negatively associated with age. The lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway was upregulated in stunted (n = 16) and wasted (n = 8) children. Findings from this study indicate that child sex may be a critical modifier of the role of gut microbiota on childhood growth.