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Birth Mode, Breastfeeding, Pet Exposure, and Antibiotic Use: Associations With the Gut Microbiome and Sensitization in Children

  • Allergies and the Environment (Michelle Hernandez, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The infant gut microbiota has become a focus of multiple epidemiologic and cohort studies. This microbiome is derived from the mother (via the vaginal canal, maternal skin contact, breastfeeding, and possibly in utero microbial transfer) and is likely influenced by multiple external factors. It is now believed by some experts that colonization and formation of the newborn and alterations of gut microbiota in children are dependent on earlier alterations of the microbiota of mothers during or perhaps even before pregnancy. This review will focus on specific factors (pet keeping, breastfeeding, antibiotic use, and mode of delivery) that influence the infant gut microbiome and atopy.

Recent Findings

This is a review of recent literature describing how pet keeping, breastfeeding, antibiotic use, and mode of delivery influences and changes the infant gut microbiome and atopy. General trends in gut microbiota differences have emerged in different birth cohorts when each external factor is analyzed, but consistency between studies is difficult to replicate. The aforementioned factors do not seem to confer an overwhelming risk for development of atopy alone.

Summary

This review provides a comprehensive review of early life environmental factors and their influence on the infant gut microbiome and atopy.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Henry Ford Health System, WSU School of Medicine, One Ford Place 4B, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Haejin Kim & Edward Zoratti

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA

    Alexandra R. Sitarik, Kimberley Woodcroft & Christine Cole Johnson

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Drs. Zoratti and Kim report grants from NIAID, during the conduct of the study. Ms. Sitarik reports grants from NIH, during the conduct of the study. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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Kim, H., Sitarik, A.R., Woodcroft, K. et al. Birth Mode, Breastfeeding, Pet Exposure, and Antibiotic Use: Associations With the Gut Microbiome and Sensitization in Children. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 19, 22 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-019-0851-9

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