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Gut Bacteria Affects How Fast Babies Grow
– Reported, May 13, 2013
(Ivanhoe Newswire) A Norwegian study led by Merete Eggesbo suggests that the rate of early infant growth is affected by the composition of microbiota within the infants guts. This link was identified by examining the composition of gut microbiota in 218 babies through fecal samples taken at 4, 10, 30, and 120 days old.
Researchers discovered if a particular microbiota called Bacteroides was present in male infants at 30 days old, those infants were more likely to experience reduced growth. On the other hand, expected growth in male and female infants was found to be linked to the presence of an E. coli species in the gut. Further research is needed, but researchers believe the composition of gut microbiota may possibly serve as a tool for determining individuals likelihood of becoming obese.
For more information, go to: http://www.ploscompbiol.org/
SOURCE: PLOS Computational Biology, May 2013