Impact of mode of delivery on gut microflora in breast-fed infants / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective The gastrointestinal tract of neonate becomes colonized with microorganisms from environment and mother immediately after birth. Strong evidences suggested that early composition of the microflora in neonates play an important role for postnatal development of the immune system. This study was designed to investigate the effect of mode of delivery on the development of gut microflora and characteristics of the stool in breast-fed infants by molecular biology methods. Methods Sixty healthy breast-fed term infants were enrolled in the study(including vaginal delivery group and cesarean section delivery group,each group included 30 infants). Anthropometric measurements and stool study were done at 6-week,8-week,10-week,and 12-week. Fecal samples were subjected to quantitative fluorescence real-time polymerse chain reaction assays for the enumeration of lactobacili,bifidobacteria,and subtype of bifidobacteria(bifidobacterium longum and bifidobacterium breve). Results The numbers of lactobacilli and bifidobacterium longum species were less in cesarean delivery group than those in vaginal delivery group(P ＜ 0.05). Stool mean pH was lower in vaginal delivery group than that in cesarean section delivery group(P ＜ 0.05). There were no differences in stool characteristics and growth between two groups. Conclusions Cesarean section is associated with the decrease of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in breast-fed term infants.