Nutrition and Dietary Supplements (Apr 2023)
Gut Microbiota Composition in Indian and Western Infants (0–24 Months): A Systematic Review
Abstract
Balaji Veeraraghavan,1 Dhanasekhar Kesavelu,2 Bijesh Yadav1 1Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632004, India; 2SS Child Care, Mogappair, West Chennai, 600037, IndiaCorrespondence: Balaji Veeraraghavan, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632004, India, Tel +919442210555, Email [email protected]: Gut microbiota starts colonizing from birth and reach the adult gut microbial profile by around three years of age. There are scarce data on the gut microbial profiles of Indian infants. Moreover, there are insufficient data comparing the types of gut microbiota in Indian and Western infants, at different stages of their growth between 0 and 24 months. Also, with increasing globalization, infants of one country of origin are born in another country or travel to another country during infancy. Hence, these infants are exposed to changing environment and food practices that often causes dysbiosis or imbalance in the healthy gut microbiota profile. Dysbiosis has been linked, directly or indirectly, with many neurodevelopmental, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and other health issues. Early probiotic supplementation is associated with the return to the gut microbiota profile to a healthy state at one year and beyond. The changing global scenarios warrant the availability of a probiotic that can be used across nations. However, this is possible only if the gut microbiota profile of Indian and Western infants is similar enough to encourage the use of same probiotic in both populations. Hence, a systematic literature search was carried out to assess if the microbiota profile of the Indian and Western infants was comparable. This systematic review included 29 studies (10 Indian and 19 Western) and found that despite some differences, the gut microbiota of Indian and Western infants aged 0– 24 months are largely similar, with implications for probiotic supplementation.Keywords: gut microbiota, Indian, Western, 0.24 months, infants
