Re: Study: BF boosts Gut Health AND Genetic expression

[Guest guest]

thanks for sharing - great article...Lorianne

 

<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120429234641.htm>

direct link to the study abstract is at the

above link as well.

Breastfeeding

Linked to Healthy Infant Gut: Bacterial Colonization

Leads to Changes in the Infant’s Expression of Genes

ScienceDaily (Apr. 29,

2012) 

Early colonization of the gut by microbes in infants is

critical for development of their intestinal tract and

in immune development. A new study, published in BioMed

Central’s open access journal Genome Biology,

shows that differences in bacterial colonization of

formula-fed and breast-fed babies leads to changes in

the infant’s expression of genes involved in the immune

system, and in defense against pathogens.

The health of individuals can be influenced by the

diversity of microbes colonizing the gut, and microbial

colonization can be especially important in regulating

both intestinal and immune development in infants.

However, little is known about the potential

interactions between the host’s health at a molecular

level, their gut microbes, and diet.

The human intestine is lined by epithelial cells that

process nutrients and provide the first line of defense

against food antigens and pathogens. Approximately

one-sixth of intestinal epithelial cells are shed every

day into feces, providing a non-invasive picture of what

is going on inside the gut.

In this study, the authors used transcriptome analysis

to compare the intestines of three month old exclusively

breast-fed or formula-fed infants, and relate this to

their gut microbes. Transcriptome analysis looks at the

small percentage of the genetic code that is transcribed

into RNA molecules and is a measure of what genes are

actively making proteins. Concurrently the microbes

(microbiome) were identified by genetic analysis.

The results showed that the breast-fed babies had a

wider range of microbes in their gut than the

formula-fed infants but that their immune systems had

developed to cope.

Chapkin from the Texas A & M University, who

led this multi-centre study, explained,  “While we found

that the microbiome of breast-fed infants is

significantly enriched in genes associated with

‘virulence’,  including resistance to antibiotics and

toxic compounds, we also found a correlation between 

bacterial pathogenicity and the expression of host genes

associated with immune and defense mechanisms.â€

He continued, “Our findings suggest that human milk

promotes the beneficial crosstalk between the immune

system and microbe population in the gut, and maintains

intestinal stability.â€

Liora

Pearlman , ModeratorMom

 

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