Adjele Jorelle Jeanne B, Devi Priti, Kumari Pallawi, Yadav Aanchal, Tchuenchieu Kamgain Alex D, Mouafo Hippolyte T, Medoua Gabriel N, Essia Justin J N, Chauhan Nar Singh, Pandey Rajesh
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Centre for Food, Food Security, and Nutrition Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies (IMPM), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Front Microbiol. 2024 Dec 18;15:1512111. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1512111. eCollection 2024.
The development of the human gut microbiota is shaped by factors like delivery mode, infant feeding practices, maternal diet, and environmental conditions. Diet plays a pivotal role in determining the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome, which in turn impacts immune development and overall health during this critical period. The early years, which are vital for microbial shaping, highlight a gap in understanding how the shift from milk-based diets to solid foods influences gut microbiota development in infants and young children, particularly in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
This study involved an analysis of the gut microbiota composition in 70 children aged ≤5 years through 16S rDNA gene metagenomic sequencing of fecal metagenomic DNA. The participants were grouped into four age categories: 0-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-24 months, and 25-60 months.
We observed a reduction in microbial diversity in the younger age groups, which increased progressively with age. At the taxonomic level, our analysis identified as the predominant phylum, with its abundance rising in older age groups, suggesting a maturation of the microbiota characterized by distinct genera associations. In the 0-6 month age group, we noted an enrichment of and , which may play a crucial role in modulating and supporting immune system development during infancy. After 6 months, we found a higher prevalence of , , , and , which are associated with fiber fermentation and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
These findings underscore the influence of milk products and complementary diets on gut microbiota across various age groups, promoting increased diversity essential for healthy gut development. More such studies in the LMICs would augment and strengthen understanding towards functional microbiome.
人类肠道微生物群的发育受到分娩方式、婴儿喂养方式、母亲饮食和环境条件等因素的影响。饮食在决定肠道微生物组的多样性和组成方面起着关键作用，而这反过来又会影响这一关键时期的免疫发育和整体健康。早年对于微生物塑造至关重要，但目前在理解从以奶为基础的饮食向固体食物的转变如何影响婴幼儿（尤其是喀麦隆雅温得的婴幼儿）的肠道微生物群发育方面存在差距。
本研究通过对粪便宏基因组DNA进行16S rDNA基因宏基因组测序，分析了70名5岁及以下儿童的肠道微生物群组成。参与者被分为四个年龄组：0至6个月、7至12个月、13至24个月和25至60个月。
我们观察到较年轻年龄组的微生物多样性降低，且随着年龄增长逐渐增加。在分类学水平上，我们的分析确定 为主要门类，其丰度在年龄较大的组中上升，这表明微生物群成熟，其特征为不同属的关联。在0至6个月年龄组中，我们注意到 和 的富集，这可能在调节和支持婴儿期免疫系统发育中起关键作用。6个月后，我们发现 、 、 和 的患病率较高，它们与纤维发酵和短链脂肪酸（SCFA）的产生有关。
这些发现强调了乳制品和补充饮食对各年龄组肠道微生物群的影响，促进了对健康肠道发育至关重要的多样性增加。在低收入和中等收入国家开展更多此类研究将增强并加深对功能性微生物组的理解。
