Development of the early-life gut microbiome and associations with eczema in a prospective Chinese cohort.

ABSTRACT: The first few years of life is a key period for the development of the gut microbiome. However, our current understanding of this topic is largely biased toward Western populations. In this study, we characterized the development and determinants of the gut microbiome in a prospective cohort of 112 term Chinese children by sequencing 713 stool samples collected at nine time points from birth to 3 years of age using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We revealed alterations in the composition and alpha and beta diversities of the gut microbiota across the first 3 years of life. We identified mode of delivery, feeding mode, and intrapartum antibiotics as the major determinants of the early-life gut microbiome, the effects of all of which persisted up to 12 months. Importantly, by conducting a nested

SUBMITTER: Cheung MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10654104 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature