Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Metabolomic analysis is commonly used to understand the biological underpinning of diseases such as obesity. However, our knowledge of gut metabolites related to weight outcomes in young children is currently limited.Objectives
To (1) explore the relationships between metabolites and child weight outcomes, (2) determine the potential effect of covariates (e.g., child's diet, maternal health/habits during pregnancy, etc.) in the relationship between metabolites and child weight outcomes, and (3) explore the relationship between selected gut metabolites and gut microbiota abundance.Methods
Using 1 H-NMR, we quantified 30 metabolites from stool samples of 170 two-year-old children. To identify metabolites and covariates associated with children's weight outcomes (BMI [weight/height2 ], BMI z-score [BMI adjusted for age and sex], and growth index [weight/height]), we analysed the 1 H-NMR data, along with 20 covariates recorded on children and mothers, using LASSO and best subset selection regression techniques. Previously characterized microbiota community information from the same stool samples was used to determine associations between selected gut metabolites and gut microbiota.Results
At age 2 years, stool butyrate concentration had a significant positive association with child BMI (p-value = 3.58 × 10-4 ), BMI z-score (p-value = 3.47 × 10-4 ), and growth index (p-value = 7.73 × 10-4 ). Covariates such as maternal smoking during pregnancy are important to consider. Butyrate concentration was positively associated with the abundance of the bacterial genus Faecalibacterium (p-value = 9.61 × 10-3 ).Conclusions
Stool butyrate concentration is positively associated with increased child weight outcomes and should be investigated further as a factor affecting childhood obesity.
SUBMITTER: Nandy D
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8647636 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Pediatric obesity 20210730 1
<h4>Background</h4>Metabolomic analysis is commonly used to understand the biological underpinning of diseases such as obesity. However, our knowledge of gut metabolites related to weight outcomes in young children is currently limited.<h4>Objectives</h4>To (1) explore the relationships between metabolites and child weight outcomes, (2) determine the potential effect of covariates (e.g., child's diet, maternal health/habits during pregnancy, etc.) in the relationship between metabolites and chil ...[more]