The Influence of Habitual Food Intake on Fecal Microbiota in Mexican School‐Age Children

Abstract

BackgroundDiet has been considered as a major modifiable factor influencing gut microbiota composition and function. However this knowledge arises mainly from intervention studies in humans and animal models, where drastic changes in diet are made. In addition, it is important to study the diet not only at nutrient level but through food groups that comprise it, since it takes into account the food integrity. Yet there is insufficient evidence from observational studies addressing how consumption of certain food groups can influence gut microbiota composition, specifically in children of developing countries like Mexico. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of food intake on the gut microbiota composition in Mexican school‐age children.MethodsThis study was a cross‐sectional study and included 382 children of Mexico City, between 5 and 12 years old (9.68; DE ± 1.8). Habitual dietary intake was assessed through a previously validated semi quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire of 107 food items that were classified into 17 groups. Analysis of the fecal microbiota was performed through 16S rRNA sequencing, in the Illumina MiSeq platform. Association of fecal microbiota composition with food intake was performed using non‐parametric statistics. The study was performed in accordance with the Basic Principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.ResultsIn this study the intake of certain food groups; fruit, vegetables and legumes showed a positive correlation with the gut microbiota alpha diversity (Shannon index), after adjusting for age and sex (p < 0.05). Higher intake of vegetables, legumes and yogurt further correlated at phyla level with higher relative abundance of Firmicutes (p < 0.05). Yogurt also positively correlated with Actinobacteria relative abundance, specifically to higher abundance of Bifidobacterium. This is in accordance with other trials where yogurt intake has shown to increase Bifidobacteria number. Vegetable intake positively correlated with abundance of Lachnospiraceae, while higher consumption of legumes with increased abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Erysipelothrichaceae. The effect seen in Ruminococcaceae could be influenced by the fiber content of legumes.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the consumption of vegetables, legumes, and yogurt was related to fecal microbiota composition. To our knowledge this is the first study in Mexican children evaluating the association of food groups with fecal microbiota composition. However it is necessary to continue the research to evaluate the effect of these associations with the metabolic phenotype.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by CONACYT grant 248765 to SM‐R