The Effects of Feeding Type on the Gut Microbiota of Neonates and Early Infants

Abstract

Aim: To explore the effects of feeding type on the intestinal microbiota of early infants. Methods: We enrolled 100 newborns and performed stool sample sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene at 3 days and 30–42 days after birth. The composition of the intestinal microbiota was analyzed. One hundred newborns were divided into three groups according to feeding type: breastfed, partially breastfed, and formula feeding. Results: In all 3 day old samples, Escherichia–Shigella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Bifidobacterium were the prominent genera and there were no statistical differences among the three groups. In the 30–42 day old samples, the prominent genera were Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Escherichia–Shigella and Bacteroides in the breastfed group; Bifidobacterium, Escherichia–Shigella, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides in the partially breastfed group; Escherichia– Shigella, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Clostridium in the formula feeding group. All genera showed statistically significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.05). By 30–42 days of age, however, microbiota from the infant stool clustered and showed significant reorganization. Microbiota were detected in all first-pass meconium samples, but their alpha diversity was low relative to that of the 30–42 day old group in all three feeding type groups. Conclusions: Intestinal microbiota in early infants differed according to feeding type. 16S sequencing technology is effective and reliable for the detection of intestinal microbiota in early infants