The microbial colonization of a baby's gut is primarily influenced by the mother's vaginal microbiota during birth and by breast milk. Two new studies have found for the first time that fathers also contribute to the establishment of the baby's microbiota, which could have health implications.
What lies beneath a dirty diaper? (Spoiler: thousands of unknown allied viruses!)
15 Nov 2023by Cristina Sáez
An international team of scientists has studied diaper samples of nearly 650 healthy 1-year-old babies for 5 years and has discovered 10,000 species of viruses, most of them unknown until now. Far from causing children to be sick, those viruses are thought to be true allies, playing an important role in protecting us from chronic diseases.
Early exposure to air pollution linked to negative changes in infant gut microbiota
25 Oct 2022by Cristina Sáez
Inhaling air pollutants during the first 6 months of life could affect a baby’s intestinal bacteria, causing changes in its composition associated with a higher risk of developing allergies, obesity and diabetes, and even influence brain development, concludes a new study.
What is bifidobacteria’s role in establishing a healthy infant gut microbiome and immune system?
20 Jun 2022by Andreu Prados
The role of the infant gut microbiome in immunological development is largely mediated by bifidobacteria. This article updates what factors affect bifidobacteria colonization in the gut and why bifidobacteria are relevant for infants, and reveals the groups of infants that will benefit from supplementation with bifidobacterial.
Although it was previously thought that the infant gut microbiota would attain an adult-like structure by the age of 3, recent studies have suggested that the gut community of microorganisms continues to evolve in both pre-adolescents and 20-year-olds.
Gut microbiota disturbance following antibiotic use at an early age is associated with behavioral disorders in infants
3 Mar 2021by Manon Oliero
While there is a lack of studies aiming to understand how the gut microbiota evolves during infancy to cause neuronal disorders, Amy Loughman’s recently published an article considering this subject.
Maternal psychological distress after birth can affect a child’s gut microbiota development and thus, their overall health, according to a recent study.
The Biotics Family in Early Life – Nutritional components for infant health
16 Oct 2019by Megan Mouw
The new book The Biotics Family in Early Life discusses how the use of dietary “biotics” can help improve infant health outcomes and reduce the risk of disease in later life.
Breast milk and maternal gut microbiota affect antibiotic resistant bacteria in the infant gut
4 Sep 2019by Cristina Sáez
A new study, published in Nature Communications, determines that the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in babies may come from their mothers, not only through childbirth but also through breastfeeding.
Can a baby’s gut bacteria influence childhood health? – A video by AllerGen
7 Aug 2019by GMFH Editing Team
In Canada, 3,500 children and their families are part of the CHILD Cohort Study, which is a large research project that is figuring out how the human microbiome influences our health.
