Different Effects of Premature Infant Formula and Breast Milk on Intestinal Microecological Development in Premature Infants

Abstract

Intestinal microecology has been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of many diseases through different pathways, and the intestinal microecology of premature infants is significantly different from full-term infants. Intestinal microecology in premature infants is affected by various factors such as gestational age, diet, antibiotic use. However, there are few studies focus on the effects of diet on intestinal microecological development in premature infants. This study explored the different effects of the formula milk (FM) and breast milk (BM) for the development of intestinal microecology in premature infants. The results showed that BM feeding increases the alpha diversity of the intestinal flora, however, FM feeding contributes to the increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut of preterm infants. The growth environment has an important influence on the β diversity of intestinal microecology, the genomic function, and the evolution of intestinal microecology in premature infants. The intestinal microecology in premature infants is significantly associated with gestational age and weight gain. This study explored the effects of feeding methods and growth environment on intestinal microecology in premature infants, and provided a basis for promoting the healthy development of premature infants.

Keywords: breast milk; environment; intestinal microecology; premature infant; premature infant formula.

FIGURE 1

SCFA levels in preterm infants in FM and BM groups. (A) Concentration of acetate in stool samples. (B) Concentration of propionate in stool samples. (C) Concentration of butyrate in stool samples. ^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗p < 0.01.

FIGURE 2

Composition of gut microbiota in premature infants at phylum and family levels. (A) Nine most abundant bacteria at the phyla level. (B) Twenty three most abundant bacteria at the family level.

FIGURE 3

Gut microbiota alpha diversity in two preterm infant groups. Shannon index (A), Pielou index (B), and Chao.1 index (C) before and after feeding for 28 days in preterm infants with different feeding methods. ^∗p < 0.05.

FIGURE 4

Gut microbiota beta diversity in preterm infants. NMDS (A) and PCoA (B) analysis grouped by feeding method, time, and environment.

FIGURE 5

Differences in gut microbiota before and after feeding for 28 days. (A) Effects of different feeding methods on the development of gut microbiota in premature infants. (B) Effects of different environment on the development of gut microbiota in premature infants.

FIGURE 6

Differentially abundant microbial clades in premature infant stool samples. (A) LEfSe analysis of gut microbiota in different feeding methods. (B) LEfSe analysis of gut microbiota in different feeding environment.

FIGURE 7

Correlation analysis of intestinal microenvironment and environmental factors. Correlation analysis between environmental factors (birth weight, weight gain and gestational age) and gut microbiota.

FIGURE 8

Genomic differential signaling pathway in gut microbiota of premature infants. (A) Effect of feeding methods on gut microbiota function. (B) Effect of environment on gut microbiota function. Dark color indicates the abundance greater than 0.1%, Light color indicates abundance less than 0.1%.

FIGURE 9

Different effects of environment and feeding methods on gut microbiota in premature infants. ↑indicates will increase the indicator, √indicates has an influence on the indicator, × indicates has no influence on the indicator.