Infant gut microbiota is linked to behavioral outcomes in early childhoodThe gut microbiome may play an important role in children’s healthy neurodevelopment. A relationship between gut microbiota diversity and young children’s behavior, especially temperamental problems, was detected by prior research. Additionally, other research suggests that nature engagement supports a healthier gut microbiome. This study aimed to clarify the connection between healthy microbiomes and children’s behavior. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between the composition of gut microbiota during infancy and subsequent behavioral outcomes during early childhood.
The study utilized data collected through an Australian birth cohort study involving 1,074 infants which collected sociodemographic, family history, and maternal health data during pregnancy, along with fecal samples from infants at one-, six-, and 12-months of age. From this study, a random subsample of 201 children was selected. Gut microbiota were obtained from their preserved fecal samples using 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing. When children were two years old parents completed the Child behavior Checklist (CBCL), a 99-item questionnaire to assess behavioral problems within Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems subscales. Parents also reported their infant’s temperament at ages one-, six-, and 12-months. The relationship between microbiota diversity and behavioral outcomes was statistically analyzed.
Analysis found that children with lower abundance of the bacterial genus <em>Prevotella</em> at 12-months of age were significantly more likely to have behavioral problems at two years of age, especially for internalizing behaviors (such as anxiety, depression, and sadness). This relationship was not affected by other variables, including maternal mental health. Recent use of antibiotics was related to decreased <em>Prevotella</em>. On the other hand, analysis also revealed weak evidence of a relationship between higher microbiota species diversity at 12-months of age and increased behavioral problems at two years, although this relationship was not statistically significant. No significant relationships were detected between microbiota diversity at one- or six-months of age and behavioral outcomes at age two.
The study is the first to report a strong relationship between reduced abundance of <em>Prevotella</em> in infancy and increased risk of subsequent behavioral challenges. Importantly, “this study adds support to evidence that the human infant gut microbiota may have long-term neurodevelopmental consequences, conferring protection or vulnerability to behavioural and mental health outcomes in later life.” Although this study did not consider the role of nature in supporting gut microbiomes, related research has detected relationships between time in nature and healthy human microbiota. Therefore, healthier gut microbiomes supported by contact with nature may be related to positive behavioral outcomes in childhood; further research is needed to investigate this association.
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