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The association of gut microbial composition with neurocognitive development in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2021

E.J. Eyemienbai ,
E.M. O'Connor  and
A. Cremona
E.J. Eyemienbai
Affiliation:
Health Service Executive (HSE), Limerick, Ireland School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
E.M. O'Connor
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
A. Cremona
Affiliation:
School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Irish Nutrition and Dietetics Institute (INDI), Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract

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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 80 , Issue OCE3: Irish Section Conference, 22–24 June 2021, Nutrition, health and ageing — translating science into practice – Part A , 2021 , E100
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Copyright © The Authors 2021

The association of the gut microbiota with neurological diseases and gastro-inflammatory diseases has been widely explored(Reference Finegold, Summanen and Downes1,Reference Lin and Stoll2) , however, research on the association of gut microbial composition with neurocognitive development in children is lacking. The aim of this review is to synthesize data from existing literature to examine the relationship between gut microbial composition with neurodevelopmental parameters and the influence of covariates.

A systematic review was conducted according to CONSORT(Reference Schulz, Altman and Moher3) guidelines. Two independent researchers conducted the literature search with the following inclusion criteria: full text studies, published in English, children with no morbidity, cohort studied, and the exposure of interest was gut microbiota. Two independent reviewers extracted the data from the included studies and carried out a risk of bias quality assessment using Cochrane standards. A random effects model was used in reporting the effect of the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity of statistical results was assessed using the I2.

Seven studies were synthesized in this review. Due to homogeneity only two studies were included in the meta-analysis. Temperament was the outcome of interest in three studies and cognitive development in four others. Results from the included studies showed that the influence of gut microbial composition on temperament domain scores was dependant on gender. Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium eligens, Roseburia hominis, and Adlercreutzia equolifaciens were related to greater cognitive scoring while Ruminococcus gnavus, Clostridales and Faecalibacterium were associated with poorer cognitive scoring. Findings from the meta-analysis on extraversion and negative affectivity showed low heterogeneity (95%CI = 2.15 [1.82, 2.47] I2 = 46% p < 0.00001) with higher negative affectivity in both studies. Extraversion and orienting showed high heterogeneity (95%CI = −0.05 [-0.95, 0.86] I2 = 98% p < 0.00001) with high extraversion in one study and high orienting in the other. Negative affectivity and orientating showed high heterogeneity (95%CI = −1.52 [-2.86, −0.18] I2 = 99%) with higher negative affectivity in both studies. Extraversion, negative affectivity, and orienting are scales on The Early Childhood Behaviour Questionnaire(Reference Putnam, Gartstein and Rothbart4) (ECBQ) used in the assessment of temperament in children between 18 months to 36 months.

This systematic review collated evidence that gut microbial composition is associated with neurocognitive developmental parameters in children. The microbial clusters correlating with the mode of delivery at birth consisted of V. dispar, Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium/Enterobacteriaceae. Bacteroides predominance stereotypically occurred in infants born by vaginal delivery, while V. dispar was found in the highest percentage of children born by surgical delivery. The association between poor cognitive performance/ development and caesarean delivery may also be linked to reduced breastfeeding rates. Gut microbial abundance of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides was associated with improved neurocognitive function and cognitive scores. Further research examining the mechanisms that influence the association between gut microbial composition and neurodevelopment in children is required.

References

Finegold, SM, Summanen, PH, Downes, J, et al. (2017) Anaerobe 45, 133–7.10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.02.008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, PW, Stoll, BJ (2006) The Lancet 368, 1271–83.10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69525-1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schulz, KF, Altman, DG, Moher, D (2010) Ann Int Med 152.10.7326/0003-4819-152-11-201006010-00232CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Putnam, SP, Gartstein, MA, Rothbart, MK (2006) Infant Behav Dev 29, 386–401.10.1016/j.infbeh.2006.01.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar