Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.
Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
Molecules. 2021 Jun 2;26(11):3341. doi: 10.3390/molecules26113341.
The fecal metabolome in early life has seldom been studied. We investigated its evolution in pre-term babies during their first weeks of life. Multiple (n = 152) stool samples were studied from 51 babies, all <32 weeks gestation. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Data were interpreted using Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution System (AMDIS) with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reference library. Statistical analysis was based on linear mixed modelling, the number of VOCs increased over time; a rise was mainly observed between day 5 and day 10. The shift at day 5 was associated with products of branched-chain fatty acids. Prior to this, the metabolome was dominated by aldehydes and acetic acid. Caesarean delivery showed a modest association with molecules of fungal origin. This study shows how the metabolome changes in early life in pre-term babies. The shift in the metabolome 5 days after delivery coincides with the establishment of enteral feeding and the transition from meconium to feces. Great diversity of metabolites was associated with being fed greater volumes of milk.
生命早期的粪便代谢组学研究甚少。我们研究了早产儿在生命最初几周内的代谢组演变。对 51 名胎龄均<32 周的婴儿的 152 多个粪便样本进行了研究。采用顶空固相微萃取气相色谱-质谱法分析挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）。使用自动质谱解卷积系统（AMDIS）和美国国家标准与技术研究院（NIST）参考库对数据进行解释。基于线性混合模型进行统计分析，发现随着时间的推移，VOCs 的数量增加；在第 5 天到第 10 天之间观察到明显增加。第 5 天的变化与支链脂肪酸的产物有关。在此之前，代谢组主要由醛类和乙酸组成。剖宫产与真菌来源的分子有一定的关联。本研究显示了早产儿生命早期的代谢组如何发生变化。分娩后 5 天的代谢组变化与肠内喂养的建立以及胎粪向粪便的转变相吻合。与摄入更多牛奶量相关的代谢物具有很大的多样性。
