A recent study involving over 400 infants in the United States revealed that nearly three-quarters of them may lack sufficient levels of beneficial gut microbes, specifically Bifidobacterium, which are crucial for protecting against allergies, asthma, and eczema. Conducted by Persephone Biosciences, the study found that 24% of babies had undetectable Bifidobacterium levels, a surprising result according to co-founder Stephanie Culler. This fundamental microbe is essential for digesting sugars in breast milk and plays a vital role in developing a healthy immune system. Its absence raises concerns about the long-term health of these infants.
Microbiologist Jack Gilbert from UC San Diego had previously estimated a lower prevalence of Bifidobacterium deficiency but acknowledged that the new finding is still troubling. Babies demonstrating low levels of these microbes were found to be three times more likely to develop allergic conditions by age two compared to those with expected levels. Moreover, infants who had received antibiotics had an even greater risk, with a 3.3 times higher likelihood of developing allergies. This trend highlights how antibiotics contribute to the decline of beneficial gut bacteria.
In addition to antibiotic use, other factors such as shifts toward processed foods, the reduction of fermented products in diets, and increased use of antibacterial soaps are also implicated in diminishing the environment for Bifidobacterium. Gilbert noted a worrying trend across several generations, where this crucial microbe seems to be vanishing from maternal populations, affecting infants’ exposure during birth. The consequences of this shift may extend beyond allergies, as imbalances in gut microbes have been associated with obesity and other health conditions.
Fascinatingly, around 76% of the infants studied exhibited low levels of Bifidobacterium, with a notable absence of the historically significant species B. infantis in 92% of samples. Infants born via C-section were notably more likely to lack these beneficial microbes. Breastfeeding, while generally considered helpful, did not improve Bifidobacterium levels in C-section-born infants. This deficiency risks facilitating the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in their guts, although the longer-term implications remain uncertain.
To address this issue, Persephone Biosciences is investigating a product combining Bifidobacterium, human milk sugars, and vitamin D to potentially enhance microbial levels in infants. Early results from the trial are expected later this year. While several studies have indicated that probiotics could help mitigate the risk of inflammatory diseases like asthma and eczema, health officials have also issued caution regarding their application in premature infants, especially after a report of a tragic incident involving a premature baby’s death linked to a probiotic.
Despite these concerns, Gilbert maintains that the benefits of Bifidobacterium probiotics may outweigh the risks for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The concept of transferring beneficial microbes to infants through maternal intake of probiotics could be a valuable preventive strategy in counteracting the growing concerns over gut microbiome deficiencies in modern infants. As the study continues to track the children’s health over the next seven years, the urgency to understand and address these microbial imbalances in newborns has never been clearer.
