scholarly journals The Infant Gut Microbiota at 12 Months and Its Associations with Maternal Pre-pregnancy BMI, Human Milk Exposure and Infant BMI-for-age Z-score (OR01-05-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kameron Sugino ◽  
Sarah Comstock ◽  
Nigel Paneth

Abstract Objectives Determine if the infant gut microbiota at 12 months of age is associated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI or infant human milk (HM) exposure. Additionally, determine whether infant BMI z-score at 12 months is associated with the infant microbiota composition and richness at 6 and 12 months. Methods Fecal samples were collected from infants at 6 (n = 35) and 12 (n = 32) months of age. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, infant weight and height, and the amount of HM in the infant diet were self-reported. Infant BMI for age z-scores (BAZ) were calculated using WHO Anthro software. Fecal communities were analyzed by 16S rRNA (V4) sequencing on an Illumina Miseq. Results Infants who had HM at 12 months had lower microbiota richness than infants who only received it until 6 months or were not exposed. Microbial community membership (Sorensen) was also significantly different in infants who received any HM at 12 months compared to infants who only received it until 6 months or were not exposed. The 12-month microbiota was similar for infants who received HM until 6 months or had no exposure. Infant BAZ at 12 months positively correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Fewer infants born to obese women were exposed to HM at 12 months compared to those born to normal weight women. However, HM exposure at 12 months was not associated with infant BAZ at 12 months. In the 12-month microbiota, Shannon diversity also positively correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. No alpha or beta diversity metrics of the infant microbiota at 6 months were associated with infant BAZ at 12 months. However, the Shannon diversity of the 12-month microbiota tended to be positively associated the 12-month infant BAZ. Conclusions Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with higher gut microbiota diversity at 12 months of age. This increase in diversity may influence host metabolism, providing a mechanistic link for elevated BAZ in infants whose mothers had an elevated BMI prior to becoming pregnant. Funding Sources Michigan State AgBioResearch, Child Health Advances through Research with Mothers, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and the NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program (Prenatal Exposures and Child Health Outcomes: A Statewide Study (UG3 OD023285)).

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1973
Author(s):  
Linda P. Siziba ◽  
Marko Mank ◽  
Bernd Stahl ◽  
John Gonsalves ◽  
Bernadet Blijenberg ◽  
...  

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have specific dose-dependent effects on child health outcomes. The HMO profile differs across mothers and is largely dependent on gene expression of specific transferase enzymes in the lactocytes. This study investigated the trajectories of absolute HMO concentrations at three time points during lactation, using a more accurate, robust, and extensively validated method for HMO quantification. We analyzed human milk sampled at 6 weeks (n = 682), 6 months (n = 448), and 12 months (n = 73) of lactation in a birth cohort study conducted in south Germany, using label-free targeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS2). We assessed trajectories of HMO concentrations over time and used linear mixed models to explore the effect of secretor status and milk group on these trajectories. Generalized linear model-based analysis was used to examine associations between HMOs measured at 6 weeks of lactation and maternal characteristics. Results: Overall, 74%, 18%, 7%, and 1% of human milk samples were attributed to milk groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Most HMO concentrations declined over lactation, but some increased. Cross-sectionally, HMOs presented high variations within milk groups and secretor groups. The trajectories of HMO concentrations during lactation were largely attributed to the milk group and secretor status. None of the other maternal characteristics were associated with the HMO concentrations. The observed changes in the HMO concentrations at different time points during lactation and variations of HMOs between milk groups warrant further investigation of their potential impact on child health outcomes. These results will aid in the evaluation and determination of adequate nutrient intakes, as well as further (or future) investigation of the dose-dependent impact of these biological components on infant and child health outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 2123-2137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Fitton ◽  
Markus F.C. Steiner ◽  
Lorna Aucott ◽  
Jill P. Pell ◽  
Daniel F. Mackay ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 097206342110652
Author(s):  
Steven Masvaure

Religious rights as enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution are sacrosanct, however, when church doctrine bars followers from seeking modern medical care, they start infringing on health rights especially of the ‘lesser beings’ the women and children who are members of these religious sects. The ‘lesser beings’ are bearing the brunt of high maternal and neonatal mortality as they depend on unsafe traditional birth attendants and unconventional medicine. This study is ethnographic and presents lessons learnt from a programme aiming to improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes among the Apostolic Church of Johanne Marange members in Manicaland province, Zimbabwe. The findings show that despite the stringent doctrine and barriers placed on apostolic members who want to access conventional medicine, the women and children are using clandestine approaches to circumvent the doctrine and barriers. This article argues that a barrage of unconventional and conventional approaches can lead to changes in health-seeking behaviour of the apostolic church and ultimately maternal and child health outcomes. The article argues that the intransigence of the apostolic can only be overcome by covert approaches to providing health services and save lives.


2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (Special Edition) ◽  
pp. 271-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadia Majid

This paper examines the effects of increased connectivity in rural areas on child health outcomes. In particular, it studies whether improved access to markets for rural areas through an upgraded road network and greater openness, as measured by village electrification status, has had a positive impact on child health outcomes and awareness of health practices such as immunization and prenatal care. Using a 16-year panel dataset from rural Pakistan, we estimate two iterations of a probit model, where one examines the probability of child i being vaccinated and the second estimates the incidence of use of prenatal care. The results support the hypothesis that greater connectivity, as measured by road connectivity and electrification, improves health outcomes by increasing the likelihood of immunization and uptake of prenatal care.


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