infant microbiome – Naturally Inspiring

November 6, 2024November 6, 2024

Could Your Baby Benefit From Synbiotic Formula?

When to Introduce Bottle to Breastfed Baby

Image: example of mother bottle feeding infant (captured by Anna Stills)

Background

The first few months of an infant’s life are very important for the development of the gut microbiota, which shapes immune responses, metabolic function, and overall health. The gut microbiota is a complex community of tiny microbes that inhabit your digestive system, namely the large intestine. Early colonization of the gut can change based on factors like how a baby was born (vaginal vs cesarean section), what they eat (breastfeeding vs formula) and healthcare treatments (antibiotic use). Disruptions to this delicate balance during infancy can have long-term consequences like increasing the risk for certain conditions like allergies, obesity and gastrointestinal disorders later in life (Lagouvardos, 2022, p.334).

Given the deep connection between the gut microbiota and health, scientists are looking into how different decisions during infancy can shape these microbial communities. One of these decisions is the use of synbiotics. Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics ( food for bacteria). Synbiotic formulas, which blend probiotcs and prebiotics, are made to copy the benefits of breastfeeding and support the development of a healthy gut microbiome in infants who are not breastfed. Synbiotic formulas are common but are, not surprisingly, more expensive than their non-synbiotic formula counterparts.

November 4, 2024

What do mamas’ genes have to do with a babies’ guts?

A little bit about Human Milk and its benefits

For as long as we can remember, breastfeeding has been the ideal way to get all the nutrients to an infant (CDC, 2024). Across the world this has been the most natural way of feeding an infant; today there have been alternatives provided to help substitute breast milk. Having these options help mothers that are not able to breastfeed or would like to substitute.In the studies done by Gomes-Gallego et al and Jost et al, focused on the benefits that breastfeeding brings to a mother as well as the infant(Gomez-Gallego et al., 2016)(Jost et al., 2014). The long term benefits can be a bit difficult to determine past the infant stage. Various studies have focused on the gut microbiome, which is a bunch of microorganisms (bacteria) that are found in your body, that is seen in the maternal milks and how that impacts the infant’s gut microbiome (Gomez-Gallego et al, 2016).

Researchers Babakobi et al., were able to find a link between the changes in the mother’s milk composition and how that change can impact the bacteria that is seen in the infants gut (Babakobi et al., 2020). Researchers focused on human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), a complex sugar that has beneficial effects on the development of a healthy microbiome for an infant. They found that the amount of proteins and lactose sugars that are essential for the composition of human milk can vary between women but is essential for the establishment of a healthy and mature gut (Pace et al., 2021)(Ballard & Marrow, 2013) . The composition of human milk is essential for the proper gut maturation and metabolic function as well as providing immune system development of infants. Human milk is made of fats, proteins, sugars and immune components, but what role do mothers’ genetics play in the composition of milk? Johnson et al., focuses on the relationship between maternal genotype, milk composition and infant health. Going into detail on how maternal genetics and gene expression of milk can lead to benefits in the development of the infant microbiome.

October 23, 2020October 23, 2020

Early Colonization of Microbes by Mode of Delivery

Background

Microscopic organisms, microorganisms, and microbes for short, are all terms that encompass all organisms too small to see with the naked eye. Microbes, being as small as they are, pretty much keep the planet running. Some important functions of microbes on a planetary scale include breaking down pollutants, ensuring that the soil is fertile, and powering the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles (Falkowski et al 2008). We need all these external microbes to live, but we also need microbes in and on our bodies to live. You can view the human body as a planet and the microbes being the inhabitants. Just like the planet earth, the human body also has varying climates where certain species thrive. Microbial communities in the human body have their own community structure and function (Human Microbiome Project Consortium 2012). Continue reading “Early Colonization of Microbes by Mode of Delivery”

November 22, 2016November 22, 2016

Saving babies, the microbiome’s role in defeating necrotizing enterocolitis

(Photo credit flickr user: hudsonthego)

Babies born too soon

Medicine is advancing faster and faster. Babies born at 23 weeks, only 3 weeks past the halfway point of a full term pregnancy, have a 17 % chance of survival, and if they are born just one week later their chances jump to 39% (preemies survival). While there is a greater chance of survival for these babies than ever before, another statistic is also growing, according to the World health organization the number of premature births has increased worldwide. Approximately 15 million babies are be born before 37-week gestation each year, and almost a million of them die as a result. While many of these deaths are tied to lack of medical care in unindustrialized countries where the premature birth rates are extremely high, there are still risk factors for those receiving even the best of care (WHO, 2015). The lungs, brain and digestive tract of premature infants are all underdeveloped, leading to severe and sometimes life long complications; one of these complications is necrotizing enterocolitis. Continue reading “Saving babies, the microbiome’s role in defeating necrotizing enterocolitis”