RESUMO
Objective@#To explore the differences in the gut microbiota of primary school students with different levels of sugar sweetened beverage intake, so as to provide scientific evidence for better identification of health risks in children and the development of targeted health policies.@*Methods@#In June 2022, a total of 192 healthy primary school students from Chengdu were selected using a stratified cluster random sampling method. The sugar sweetened beverage intake was assessed through a dietary frequency questionnaire. Based on the median daily sugar sweetened beverage intake, primary school students were categorized into a low intake group ( n =96) and a high intake group ( n =96). The gut microbiota in fresh fecal samples from the two groups of primary school students was analyzed using 16S rRNA high throughput sequencing, and the diversity and community structure differences in the gut microbiota were compared.@*Results@#Children in the low intake group had a sugar sweetened beverage intake of (21.3±1.6) mL/d, while the high intake group had an intake of (269.6±37.3) mL/d. Diversity analysis results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the low intake and the high intake group in terms of α diversity metrics: Observed_otus index [298.50 (259.75, 342.25), 305.50 (244.25, 367.75)], Goods_coverage index [1.00 (1.00, 1.00), 1.00 (1.00, 1.00)], Chao index [304.18 (260.75, 348.78), 305.88 (245.68, 370.88)], Shannon index [5.88 (5.29, 6.45), 5.71 (4.89, 6.28)] and Simpson index [0.95 (0.91, 0.97), 0.94 (0.88, 0.97)] ( Z =-0.64, -0.76, -0.54, -1.76, -1.67, P >0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was observed in β diversity between the two groups ( R 2=0.006, P >0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Blautia [0.033 (0.018, 0.055)] and Fusicatenibacter [0.009 (0.005, 0.015)] were higher in the low intake group compared to the high intake group [0.024 (0.013, 0.041),0.006 (0.003, 0.011)]and differences were statistically significant ( Z =-2.52, -2.81, P <0.05). LEfSe analysis highlighted intergroup differences primarily in Blautia, Fusicatenibacter and Sarcina( LDA= 3.56,3.12,3.53, P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#There is no significant difference in the diversity and overall structure of the gut microbiota in primary school students with different levels of sugar sweetened beverage intake. However, there are species variations at the genus level. The information can serve as a scientific basis for identifying health risks in primary school students and formulating targeted health strategies.