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Costa A, Lucarini E. Treating chronic stress and chronic pain by manipulating gut microbiota with diet: can we kill two birds with one stone? Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-24. [PMID: 38889540 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2365021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Background: Chronic stress and chronic pain are closely linked by the capacity to exacerbate each other, sharing common roots in the brain and in the gut. The strict intersection between these two neurological diseases makes important to have a therapeutic strategy aimed at preventing both to maintain mental health in patients. Diet is an modifiable lifestyle factor associated with gut-brain axis diseases and there is growing interest in its use as adjuvant to main therapies. Several evidence attest the impact of specific diets or nutrients on chronic stress-related disorders and pain with a good degree of certainty. A daily adequate intake of foods containing micronutrients such as amino acids, minerals and vitamins, as well as the reduction in the consumption of processed food products can have a positive impact on microbiota and gut health. Many nutrients are endowed of prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective potential which make them useful tools helping the management of chronic stress and pain in patients. Dietary regimes, as intermittent fasting or caloric restriction, are promising, although further studies are needed to optimize protocols according to patient's medical history, age and sex. Moreover, by supporting gut microbiota health with diet is possible to attenuate comorbidities such as obesity, gastrointestinal dysfunction and mood disorders, thus reducing healthcare costs related to chronic stress or pain.Objective: This review summarize the most recent evidence on the microbiota-mediated beneficial effects of macro- and micronutrients, dietary-related factors, specific nutritional regimens and dietary intervention on these pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Costa
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Area and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Lucarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Area and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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van de Wouw M, Wang Y, Workentine ML, Vaghef-Mehrabani E, Barth D, Mercer EM, Dewey D, Arrieta MC, Reimer RA, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht GF. Cluster-specific associations between the gut microbiota and behavioral outcomes in preschool-aged children. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:60. [PMID: 38515179 PMCID: PMC10956200 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01773-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiota is recognized as a regulator of brain development and behavioral outcomes during childhood. Nonetheless, associations between the gut microbiota and behavior are often inconsistent among studies in humans, perhaps because many host-microbe relationships vary widely between individuals. This study aims to stratify children based on their gut microbiota composition (i.e., clusters) and to identify novel gut microbiome cluster-specific associations between the stool metabolomic pathways and child behavioral outcomes. METHODS Stool samples were collected from a community sample of 248 typically developing children (3-5 years). The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S sequencing while LC-MS/MS was used for untargeted metabolomics. Parent-reported behavioral outcomes (i.e., Adaptive Skills, Internalizing, Externalizing, Behavioral Symptoms, Developmental Social Disorders) were assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-2). Children were grouped based on their gut microbiota composition using the Dirichlet multinomial method, after which differences in the metabolome and behavioral outcomes were investigated. RESULTS Four different gut microbiota clusters were identified, where the cluster enriched in both Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium (Ba2) had the most distinct stool metabolome. The cluster characterized by high Bifidobacterium abundance (Bif), as well as cluster Ba2, were associated with lower Adaptive Skill scores and its subcomponent Social Skills. Cluster Ba2 also had significantly lower stool histidine to urocanate turnover, which in turn was associated with lower Social Skill scores in a cluster-dependent manner. Finally, cluster Ba2 had increased levels of compounds involved in Galactose metabolism (i.e., stachyose, raffinose, alpha-D-glucose), where alpha-D-glucose was associated with the Adaptive Skill subcomponent Daily Living scores (i.e., ability to perform basic everyday tasks) in a cluster-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS These data show novel associations between the gut microbiota, its metabolites, and behavioral outcomes in typically developing preschool-aged children. Our results support the concept that cluster-based groupings could be used to develop more personalized interventions to support child behavioral outcomes. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel van de Wouw
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Matthew L Workentine
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UCVM Bioinformatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elnaz Vaghef-Mehrabani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Delaney Barth
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Emily M Mercer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- International Microbiome Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marie-Claire Arrieta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- International Microbiome Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raylene A Reimer
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Ou Y, Belzer C, Smidt H, de Weerth C. Development of the gut microbiota in the first 14 years of life and its relations to internalizing and externalizing difficulties and social anxiety during puberty. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:847-860. [PMID: 37071196 PMCID: PMC10894087 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02205-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Relations between the gut microbiota and host mental health have been suggested by a growing number of case-control and cross-sectional studies, while supporting evidence is limited in large community samples followed during an extended period. Therefore, the current preregistered study ( https://osf.io/8ymav , September 7, 2022) described child gut microbiota development in the first 14 years of life and explored its relations to internalizing and externalizing difficulties and social anxiety in puberty, a period of high relevance for the development of mental health problems. Fecal microbiota composition was analysed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing in a total of 1003 samples from 193 children. Through a clustering method, four distinct microbial clusters were newly identified in puberty. Most children within three of these clusters remained in the same clusters from the age of 12 to 14 years, suggesting stability in microbial development and transition during this period. These three clusters were compositionally similar to enterotypes (i.e., a robust classification of the gut microbiota based on its composition across different populations) enriched in Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Ruminococcus, respectively. Two Prevotella 9-predominated clusters, including one reported by us earlier in middle childhood and the other one in puberty, were associated with more externalizing behavior at age 14. One Faecalibacterium-depleted pubertal cluster was related to more social anxiety at age 14. This finding was confirmed by a negative cross-sectional relation between Faecalibacterium and social anxiety in the 14-year-olds. The findings of this study continue to map gut microbiota development in a relatively large community sample followed from birth onwards, importantly extending our knowledge to puberty. Results indicate that Prevotella 9 and Faecalibacterium may be relevant microbial taxa in relation to externalizing behavior and social anxiety, respectively. These correlational findings need validations from other similar cohort studies, as well as well-designed mechanistic pre-clinical investigations before inferring cause and effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangwenshan Ou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Clara Belzer
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Rojas L, van de Wouw M, Wang Y, Vaghef-Mehrabani E, Dewey D, Reimer RA, Letourneau N, Campbell T, Arrieta MC, Giesbrecht GF. Long-term and trimester-specific effects of prenatal stress on the child gut microbiota. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 158:106380. [PMID: 37696229 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stress is common among pregnant individuals and is associated with an altered gut microbiota composition in infants. It is unknown if these compositional changes persist into the preschool years when the gut microbiota reaches an adult-like composition. This study aimed to investigate if indicators of prenatal stress (i.e., psychological distress and stress-related physiology) are associated with children's gut microbiota composition and metabolites at 3-4 years of age. METHODS Maternal-child pairs (n = 131) were from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort. Each trimester, psychological distress was measured as symptoms of anxiety (Symptom Checklist-90-R) and depressed mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), whereas salivary cortisol was quantified as a measure of stress-related physiology. Child stool samples were collected at 3-4 years to evaluate gut microbiota composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal metabolome using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Associations between prenatal distress and cortisol with the gut microbiota were determined using Pearson and Spearman correlations and corrected for multiple testing. Associations between prenatal distress and cortisol with the fecal metabolome were assessed using Metaboanalyst. RESULTS Symptoms of depressed mood during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and anxiety during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy were associated with increased alpha diversity of the child's gut microbiota. Cortisol levels during the 1st trimester were also associated with increased Faith PD diversity (r = 0.32), whereas cortisol levels during the 2nd trimester were associated with reduced Shannon diversity (r = -0.27). Depression scores during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were associated with reductions in the relative abundances of Eggerthella, Parasutterella, and increases in Ruminococcaceae (rs = -0.28, rs = -0.32, rs = 0.32, respectively), as well as the fecal metabolome (e.g., branched-chain amino acid metabolism). Cortisol levels during the 2nd trimester correlated with 7 bacterial taxa, whereas 1st-trimester cortisol levels were associated with the child's fecal metabolome. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal distress and cortisol were associated with both child gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolome at preschool age. Understanding these associations may allow for the identification of microbiota-targeted interventions to support child developmental outcomes affected by prenatal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rojas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marcel van de Wouw
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raylene A Reimer
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
| | - Tavis Campbell
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marie-Claire Arrieta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; International Microbiome Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Ou Y, Rots E, Belzer C, Smidt H, de Weerth C. Gut microbiota and child behavior in early puberty: does child sex play a role? Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2278222. [PMID: 37943628 PMCID: PMC10731618 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2278222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing number of studies have indicated relations between the gut microbiota and mental health. However, to date, there is a scarcity of microbiota studies in community samples in early puberty. The current preregistered study (https://osf.io/wu2vt) investigated gut microbiota composition in relation to sex in low-risk children and explored behavioral associations with gut microbiota composition and metabolites in the same samples, together with the potential role of sex. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed in 12-year-old children (N = 137) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR. Modest sex differences were observed in beta diversity. Generalized linear models showed consistent behavioral relations to both relative and absolute abundances of individual taxa, including positive associations between Parasutterella and mother-reported internalizing behavior, and negative associations between Odoribacter and mother-reported externalizing behavior. Additionally, Prevotella 9 was positively related to mother-reported externalizing behavior, confirming earlier findings on the same cohort at 5 years of age. Sex-related differences were found in behavioral relations to Ruminiclostridium 5, Alistipes, Streptococcus, Ruminiclostridium 9, Ruminococcaceae UCG-5, and Dialister, for relative abundances, as well as to Family XIII AD3011 group and an unidentified bacterium within the Tenericutes, for absolute abundances. Limited behavioral relations were observed regarding alpha diversity and fecal metabolites. Our findings describe links between the gut microbiota and child behavior, together with differences between child sexes in these relations, in low-risk early pubertal children. Importantly, this study confirmed earlier findings in this cohort of positive relations between Prevotella 9 and externalizing behavior at age 10 years. Results also show the merit of including absolute abundances in microbiota studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangwenshan Ou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eline Rots
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Clara Belzer
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Willemsen Y, Ou Y, Belzer C, Arias Vásquez A, Smidt H, Beijers R, de Weerth C. A longitudinal study of the gut microbiota during the first three years of life: Links with problem behavior and executive functions at preschool age. Dev Psychopathol 2023:1-17. [PMID: 37994488 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423001402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Early life is a sensitive period when microbiota-gut-brain interactions may have important impact on development. This study investigated the associations of the gut microbiota in the first three years of life (two, six, and 12 weeks, and one and three years) with problem behavior and executive functions in N = 64 three-year-old children. Higher relative abundance of Streptococcus at the age of two weeks, as well as its trajectory over time (including ages two, six and 12 weeks, and one and three years), was related to worse executive functions. Higher relative abundance of [Ruminococcus] torques group at the age of three years, as well as its trajectory from one to three years, was associated with less internalizing behavior. Besides, several robust age-specific associations were identified: higher Bifidobacterium relative abundance (age three years) was associated with more internalizing and externalizing issues; higher Blautia relative abundance (age three years) was linked to less internalizing behavior; and increased relative abundance of an unidentified Enterobacteriaceae genus (age two weeks) was related to more externalizing behavior. Our findings provide important longitudinal evidence that early-life gut microbiota may be linked to behavioral and cognitive development in low-risk children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Willemsen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yangwenshan Ou
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Clara Belzer
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alejandro Arias Vásquez
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Genetics, Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Ou Y, Belzer C, Smidt H, de Weerth C. Methodological recommendations for human microbiota-gut-brain axis research. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2023; 3:1. [PMID: 38455088 PMCID: PMC10917620 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Observational studies have determined numerous correlations between sequence-based gut microbiota data and human mental traits. However, these associations are often inconsistent across studies. This inconsistency is one of the reasons that mechanistic validation studies of the observed correlations are lagging, making it difficult to establish causal associations. The absence of consistent study findings may partially be due to the lack of clear guidelines for identifying confounders of relations between complex microbial communities and mental conditions. Gut microbial complexity also impedes deciphering microbiota-host relations by using a single analytical approach. The aim of the current review is to help solve these problems by providing methodological recommendations for future human microbiota-gut-brain axis research on the selection of confounders, the use of integrative biostatistical methods, and the steps needed to translate correlative findings into causal conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangwenshan Ou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Radboud university medical center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Clara Belzer
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Radboud university medical center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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van de Wouw M, Rojas L, Vaghef-Mehrabani E, Wang Y, Fichter C, Workentine ML, Dewey D, Arrieta MC, Reimer RA, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht GF. Exploring Associations Between the Gut Microbiota and Full-Scale Intelligence in Preschool Children. Neurosci Lett 2023:137357. [PMID: 37355156 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between the gut microbiota and neurocognitive outcomes is becoming increasingly recognized; however, findings in humans are inconsistent. In addition, few studies have investigated the gut microbial metabolites that may mediate this relationship. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between full-scale intelligence (FSIQ) and the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolome in preschool children. Stool samples were collected from a community sample of 245 typically developing children (3-5 years) from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort. The faecal microbiome was assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing and the metabolome using LC-MS/MS. FSIQ and scores on the Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Working Memory indices of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV were used to assess neurocognition. Associations between the gut microbiota and FSIQ were determined using Pearson and Spearman correlations, which were corrected for multiple testing and relevant covariates. Verbal Comprehension negatively correlated with both Shannon alpha diversity (r=-0.14, p=0.032) and the caffeine-derived metabolite paraxanthine (r=-0.22, p<0.001). No other significant correlations were observed. Overall, the weak to modest correlations between Verbal Comprehension with alpha diversity and paraxanthine provide limited evidence of an association between the gut microbiota and neurocognitive outcomes in typically developing preschool children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel van de Wouw
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Laura Rojas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | | | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | - Chloe Fichter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Matthew L Workentine
- UCVM Bioinformatics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Marie-Claire Arrieta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; International Microbiome Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Raylene A Reimer
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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9
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Wang Y, van de Wouw M, Drogos L, Vaghef-Mehrabani E, Reimer RA, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht GF. Sleep and the gut microbiota in preschool-aged children. Sleep 2022; 45:6509073. [PMID: 35037059 PMCID: PMC9189981 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep plays a significant role in the mental and physical development of children. Emerging evidence in animals and human adults indicates a relationship between sleep and the gut microbiota; however, it is unclear whether the sleep of preschoolers during a key developmental period, associates with features of their gut microbiota. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between sleep and gut microbiota in preschool-aged children (4.37 ± 0.48 years, n = 143). Sleep measures included total night-time sleep (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and wake-time after sleep onset (WASO) assessed using actigraphy. Beta-diversity differences between children with low and high TST (p = .048) suggest gut microbiota community differences. Particularly, relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was higher in the high TST group and Bacteroides, was higher in children who had greater SE and less WASO (LDA score >2). In contrast, some Lachnospiraceae members including Blautia and Coprococcus 1 were associated with shorter night-time sleep duration and less efficiency, respectively. We also found a group of fecal metabolites, including specific neuroactive compounds and immunomodulating metabolites were associated with greater sleep efficiency and less time awake at night. Notably, tryptophan and its metabolizing products were higher in children who had higher SE or lower WASO (LDA score >2); concentration of propionate was higher in children with less WASO (p = .036). Overall, our results reveal a novel association between sleep and gut microbiota in preschool-aged children. Longer night-time sleep and greater sleep efficiency were associated with specific commensal bacteria that may regulate sleep through modulating neurotransmitter metabolism and the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Lauren Drogos
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Raylene A Reimer
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada,Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Corresponding author. Gerry Giesbrecht, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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