Gut microbiome composition is associated with temperament during early childhood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the dynamics of the gut-brain axis has clinical implications for physical and mental health conditions, including obesity and anxiety. As such disorders have early life antecedents, it is of value to determine if associations between the gut microbiome and behavior are present in early life in humans.

Methods

We used next generation pyrosequencing to examine associations between the community structure of the gut microbiome and maternal ratings of child temperament in 77 children at 18-27months of age. It was hypothesized that children would differ in their gut microbial structure, as indicated by measures of alpha and beta diversity, based on their temperamental characteristics.

Results

Among both boys and girls, greater Surgency/Extraversion

SUBMITTER: Christian LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4342262 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature