Metabolomic profiling of stool of two-year old children from the INSIGHT study reveals links between butyrate and child weight outcomes
Jan 1, 2022·
D Nandy, SJ Craig, J Cai, Y Tian, IM Paul, JS Savage, ME Marini, EE Hohman, ML Reimherr, AD Patterson, KD Makova, F Chiaromonte
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0 min read
Abstract
Summary
Background: Metabolomic analysis is commonly used to understand the biological underpinning of diseases such as obesity. However, our knowledge of gut metabolites related to weight outcomes in young children is currently limited.
Objectives: To (1) explore the relationships between metabolites and child weight outcomes, (2) determine the potential effect of covariates (e.g., child’s diet, maternal health/habits during pregnancy, etc.) in the relationship between metabolites and child weight outcomes, and (3) explore the relationship between selected gut metabolites and gut microbiota abundance.
Methods: Using 1H-NMR, we quantified 30 metabolites from stool samples of 170 two-year-old children. To identify metabolites and covariates associated with children’s weight outcomes (BMI [weight/height2], BMI z-score [BMI adjusted for age and sex], and growth index [weight/height]), we analysed the 1H-NMR data, along with 20 covariates recorded on children and mothers, using LASSO and best subset selection regression techniques. Previously characterized microbiota community information from the same stool samples was used to determine associations between selected gut metabolites and gut microbiota.
Results: At age 2 years, stool butyrate concentration had a significant positive association with child BMI (p-value = 3.58 × 10–4), BMI z-score (p-value = 3.47 × 10–4), and growth index (p-value = 7.73 × 10–4). Covariates such as maternal smoking during pregnancy are important to consider. Butyrate concentration was positively associated with the abundance of the bacterial genus Faecalibacterium (p-value = 9.61 × 10−3).
Conclusions: Stool butyrate concentration is positively associated with increased child weight outcomes and should be investigated further as a factor affecting childhood obesity.
Background: Metabolomic analysis is commonly used to understand the biological underpinning of diseases such as obesity. However, our knowledge of gut metabolites related to weight outcomes in young children is currently limited.
Objectives: To (1) explore the relationships between metabolites and child weight outcomes, (2) determine the potential effect of covariates (e.g., child’s diet, maternal health/habits during pregnancy, etc.) in the relationship between metabolites and child weight outcomes, and (3) explore the relationship between selected gut metabolites and gut microbiota abundance.
Methods: Using 1H-NMR, we quantified 30 metabolites from stool samples of 170 two-year-old children. To identify metabolites and covariates associated with children’s weight outcomes (BMI [weight/height2], BMI z-score [BMI adjusted for age and sex], and growth index [weight/height]), we analysed the 1H-NMR data, along with 20 covariates recorded on children and mothers, using LASSO and best subset selection regression techniques. Previously characterized microbiota community information from the same stool samples was used to determine associations between selected gut metabolites and gut microbiota.
Results: At age 2 years, stool butyrate concentration had a significant positive association with child BMI (p-value = 3.58 × 10–4), BMI z-score (p-value = 3.47 × 10–4), and growth index (p-value = 7.73 × 10–4). Covariates such as maternal smoking during pregnancy are important to consider. Butyrate concentration was positively associated with the abundance of the bacterial genus Faecalibacterium (p-value = 9.61 × 10−3).
Conclusions: Stool butyrate concentration is positively associated with increased child weight outcomes and should be investigated further as a factor affecting childhood obesity.
Type
Publication
Pediatric Obesity
Authors
Ian Paul, MD, MSc, graduated from Penn State College of Medicine and completed his residency training at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. In addition to his responsibilities as a general pediatrician at Penn State Pediatrics and in the newborn nursery, Dr. Paul spends much of his time working on a variety of research projects and clinical trials that seek to improve health care for children and their families. His current research includes studies to prevent obesity and help breastfeeding newborns.
Authors
Professor
Kateryna is interested in genomics, evolution, and human genetics.
Her lab studies mutations using both computational and experimental
approaches. Additional topics of interest include sex chromosome
evolution and genomics of childhood obesity.
Authors
Francesca is a statistician developing methods for the analysis of large, high-dimensional and complex data, and applying such methods in contemporary “Omics” sciences and other scientific fields – including Meteorology and Economics.