New research shows how birth delivery methods and natural surroundings impact infant gut health, emphasizing the critical role of outdoor time in shaping healthy gut diversity as babies grow. Study: The role of early life factors and green living environment in the development of gut microbiota in infancy: Population-based cohort study . Image Credit: Design_Cells / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Environment International , researchers in Finland analyzed the influence of early life factors in shaping the community composition of gut microflora during infancy.
High-throughput sequencing alongside multiple metrics of residential greenery revealed the significant role of green environments in determining infants’ gut diversity, particularly during early infancy. The study found that infants delivered via cesarean section showed differences in gut bacterial diversity compared to those born vaginally, impacting the initial microbial colonization. However, the study found that this association was limited to alpha diversity, which measures species richness and diversity, rather than specific microbial community composition.
Surprisingly, no such association between residential proximity to green environments and gut floral populations could be established during late infancy. Instead, gut microbial communities were more strongly determined by the time spent outdoors. Notably, birth mode and the presence of siblings were demonstrated to influence infant d.