Gut microbiota composition during infancy and subsequent behavioural outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Despite intense interest in the relationship between gut microbiota and brain development, longitudinal data from human studies are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the composition of gut microbiota during infancy and subsequent behavioural outcomes.

METHODS

A subcohort of 201 children with behavioural outcome measures was identified within a longitudinal, Australian birth-cohort study. The faecal microbiota were analysed at 1, 6, and 12 months of age. Behavioural outcomes were measured at 2 years of age.

FINDINGS

In an unselected birth cohort, we found a clear association between decreased normalised abundance of Prevotella in faecal samples collected at 12 months of age and increased behavioural problems at 2 years, in particular Internalizing Problem scores. This association appeared independent of multiple potentially confounding variables, including maternal mental health. Recent exposure to antibiotics was the best predictor of decreased Prevotella.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings demonstrate a strong association between the composition of the gut microbiota in infancy and subsequent behavioural outcomes; and support the importance of responsible use of antibiotics during early life.

FUNDING

This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (1082307, 1147980, 1129813), The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Perpetual Trustees, and The Shepherd Foundation. The funders had no involvement in the data collection, analysis or interpretation, trial design, recruitment or any other aspect pertinent to the study.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of competing interest The findings described in this paper are of potential relevance to Prevatex Pty Ltd, in which the following authors have a financial interest: PV, MOH, SR, FC and ALP. In addition, the following interests have been declared: - Michael Conlon – Patent PI2018702907 (Malaysia). Provisional patent AU2019902828 (Australia). Provisional patent AU2019901142 (Australia). Patent all related to microbes. With his CSIRO colleagues, Dr Conlon has had extensive discussions with the Australian company Microba, who provide gut microbiome testing services or the general population, around potential collaboration and allowed them to sell (along with their kits) for a short period one of the books he has co-authored entitled The CSIRO Healthy Gut Diet. - Michael Berk – Dr. Berk reports grants from NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship and personal fees from Allergan, RANZCP Hong Kong, Servier, Southern Star Research, Lundbeck, RANZCP Hobart, Livanova, Grunbiotics, Janssen, Catalyst NZ, Norwegian Psychiatry Assoc, Otsuka, Controversias Barcelona, Medisquire India, HealthEd, ANZJP, and Medplan Communications Canada. In addition, Dr. Berk has a patent Modulation of Physiological processes and agents useful for same. pending, and a patent Modulation of diseases of the central nervous system and related disorders (pending). - Mimi Tang – Dr. Tang reports grants from National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, from The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, from Barwon Health, from Deakin University, from Perpetual Trustees, from The Shepherd Foundation, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Abbot Nutrition, personal fees from Nestle Health Science, other from Nestle Nutritian Institute, other from Nutricia, personal fees from Bayer Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work; In addition, Dr. Tang has a patent Behavioural Treatment licensed to MCRI, and a patent Method of Inducing tolerance licensed to MCRI.