Gut Microbiota of 13 Years Old Children Is Associated With BMI- and Height- For-Age Growth Patterns Since Birth

Abstract

ObjectivesThe relationship between gut microbiota and growth during infancy has been substantiated, but whether this stands true in later childhood is under investigation. We used a new clustering methodology that improves interpretability of later childhood growth patterns. Three distinct patterns were identified (Increasing, Stable, Declining) for BMI-for-age (BMIZ) and height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) in a birth cohort of 4231 Brazilian children. Here, we investigate the association between these growth patterns and gut microbiota diversity in late childhood. MethodsWe sampled 337 children from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort (Brazil) grouped into Increasing (n = 78; 68), Stable (n = 161; 170), or Declining (n = 98; 99) patterns for BMIZ and HAZ, respectively. Feces and anthropometrics were collected at age 13 years. The fecal microbiota was analyzed via Illumina MiSeq (16S rRNA V3-V4 region) and the UNOISE pipeline. Alpha (Kruskal-Wallis) and beta (permutational multivariate analysis of variance) diversity were assessed in QIIME2. ResultsThe microbiota of children in the BMIZ Increasing pattern had lower richness and evenness compared to those in the Stable or Decreasing patterns (Chao1, q < 0.01; Shannon, q < 0.01). Beta diversity also differed between the Increasing vs Stable and Decreasing patterns (Jaccard, q < 0.03; Unweighted UNIFRAC, q < 0.009) but not if using abundance-normalized indices (Bray-Curtis and Weighted UNIFRAC). While alpha diversity did not differ with HAZ patterns, beta diversity did show differences between the Increasing vs Stable and Decreasing patterns (Jaccard, q < 0.006; Bray-Curtis, q < 0.01). ConclusionsIncreasing BMIZ and HAZ patterns during childhood are associated with a distinct microbiota structure at age 13, which is likely driven by less abundant organisms for BMIZ but not for HAZ. Overall, the gut microbiota seems to be related to markers of obesity in late childhood growth. Funding SourcesJoannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Lawson Family Chair in Microbiome Nutrition Research, CONACyT scholarship. The Wellcome Trust, World Health Organization, National Support Program for Centers of Excellence, Brazilian National Research Council, Brazilian Ministry of Health, and Children’s Pastorate.