Antibiotics And Cesarean Sections Can Affect Babies' Healthy Bacteria

The development of babies' gut bacteria may be hampered by antibiotics and delivery by cesarean section, according to new research. The research revealed bacteria can have slower growth and have less diversity during babies' first year.

The Washington Post reported that gut bacteria aids in food digestion and influences the immune system. Gut bacteria are said to play a part in autoimmune disorders such as asthma and allergies, digestive diseases and obesity. 

New Health Alert Hints that antibiotics, C-sections may affect baby gut bugs https://t.co/mzgnFteBZ5

— Treatment Diaries (@treatdiaries) June 16, 2016

Development Of Gut Bacteria Tracked

Researchers studied 43 American babies for a period of two years to check for changes in their gut bacteria. They collected more than 1,000 stool samples monthly from the babies.

Among these babies, 24 were born through vaginal delivery while 19 were born through cesarean delivery. The Daily Pioneer reported that babies born by cesarean delivery had significantly more bacterial diversity weeks after birth.

However, the diversity of the gut bacteria deteriorated in the first month and continued to do so up to when they reached two years old. The report also said that the use of antibiotics also lessened the diversity of gut bacteria after birth but this picked up when the babies turned one year old.

What The Gut Bacteria Findings Mean

"Our results provide evidence that modern practices have changed a baby's microbial communities in ways that last through the first year," said Martin Blaser, as per Hindustan Times. Blaser, a professor at New York University, led the study.

Blaser and his colleagues' study employed genomic and statistical methods in their analysis of the DNA of gut bacteria in the babies' stool samples. The study on gut bacteria was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

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