Gut Feeling: How C-sections Change A Baby's Gut Ecosystem
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published September 18, 2019 | 11:30 PM
Tokyo, Sept 18 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Sep, 2019 ) :The complex ecosystem of the human gut influences our health for life, and new research shows it may be crucially shaped by the way we come into the world.
A seven-year study published Thursday shows babies delivered by caesarean section have fewer gut microbes from their mother, and more bacteria from the hospital environment, than those delivered vaginally.
And it also found differences between the gut environment -- known as the microbiome -- of babies whose mothers received antibiotics during birth, compared to those who didn't.
The authors believe it could provide evidence that birth is a defining moment for the human immune system, which is shaped by our gut bacteria.
"The hypothesis is that the moment of birth might be a thermostatic moment for the immune system... which 'sets' the immune system for life," said author Nigel Field, clinical associate professor at University College London, at a presentation of the research.
But the researchers caution that while the findings published in the journal Nature are "ground-breaking", the implications are unclear.
Differences in the gut bacteria of newborns evened out by the time they were weaned, and there is no definitive evidence yet that the altered microbiome is tied to the childhood conditions more often seen in babies delivered by caesarean.
- 'Poo flying around' - The study examined tens of thousands of faecal and blood samples collected from mothers and babies in Britain.
"There was a lot of poo flying around," conceded author Peter Brocklehurst, professor of women's health at the University of Birmingham.
It examined in more detail than ever before what kind of bacteria were in babies' guts in the early days of life, with further sampling weeks and months later.
It found that babies born naturally acquired bacteria found in their mother's guts, but babies delivered by C-section were instead colonised by "opportunistic pathogens" from hospitals.
These pathogens are not immediately harmful, but can cause sickness if the immune system is weakened or the bacteria moves to other parts of the body.
The researchers cautioned that the study was not yet a reason to alter childbirth practices.
"We are quite keen that we don't cause any upset or distress to women because we don't know what the consequences of these findings are," said Brocklehurst.
"They could be associated with long-term outcomes for the baby, but we don't know that yet." - 'Much more work' - One of the study's findings overturns a previous theory about how a newborn's gut is colonised by the mother's bacteria.
It had been thought that bacteria from the mother's vaginal canal was key to the process, but examination of the newborn microbiome showed few of the bacteria present there were from the vagina.
So where do the bacteria come from? "It may not be a coincidence that you're born with your mouth close to your mother's anus," said Brocklehurst.
"That's almost certainly where they pick up those bacteria... so of course if you're born by caesarean section, you don't go anywhere near that area." The authors cautioned the work is only an initial foray into a highly complex field, with many questions remaining, including the role that antibiotics play in altering the newborn microbiome.
In Britain, all mothers delivering by caesarean are given antibiotics, making it hard to tease apart the effects due to the delivery method rather than the medication.
It is clear that delivery does play a role, the authors said, as evidenced by previous research in countries where antibiotics are not routine during C-sections. But further work is needed to separate out the different impacts.
The authors also want to examine how home births affect the microbiome, and to follow a larger cohort of babies over a longer period to look for links between delivery method and illnesses like asthma and diabetes.
Brocklehurst said that might involve as many as 40,000 infants.
"We need to do much more work," he said.
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
1 day ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
3 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
4 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
4 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
4 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
10 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
11 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
14 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
16 days ago