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GUT MICROBIOTA CHARACTERISTICS IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
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Abstract
Background: The gut microbiota (GM) plays a crucial role in immune regulation and metabolic development during early childhood. However, data on GM composition in Vietnamese children remain scarce. Objectives: To characterize the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in healthy children under five years of age and to examine its variation according to age, sex, gestational age, mode of delivery, and feeding practices. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 64 healthy children under five years of age at Children’s Hospital 1. Fecal samples were collected and analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3–V4 region, using the QIIME 2 platform. Microbial alpha and beta diversity and taxonomic composition were compared across age groups, sex, gestational age, mode of delivery, and infant feeding practices. Results: Microbial diversity increased significantly with age, accompanied by a clear shift in taxonomic composition. Younger children, particularly those under six months, showed dominance of Enterococcus and Klebsiella, while children older than six months had higher proportions of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and other obligate anaerobes. Preterm infants exhibited lower microbial richness and greater abundance of potentially pathogenic genera compared to full-term infants. Feeding practices were also strongly associated with microbial composition; exclusively breastfed children had a higher abundance of beneficial taxa and lower levels of Proteobacteria, whereas those fed with formula showed increased proportions of Enterococcus and Staphylococcus. In contrast, gender had limited effects on the overall microbiota profile. Conclusion: The gut microbiota in children undergoes marked changes with age and is significantly influenced by gestational age and feeding practices during the first six months of life. Breastfeeding promotes the development of a healthy microbiota enriched with beneficial bacteria, whereas preterm infants exhibit lower microbial diversity and a higher abundance of potentially pathogenic taxa.
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Keywords
gut microbiota, children, 16S rRNA, breastfeeding, preterm birth, microbial diversity
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