Characterizing the Gut Microbiota Alteration Associated With Severe Acute Malnutrition

Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection100 enrolled

Overview

The investigators performed two case-control studies in Niger and Senegal analysing fecal microbiota to characterize the specificity of the gut microbiota alteration associated with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Fecal samples of cases (severe acute malnutrition (SAM) ascertained according to the WHO definition) and controls (asymptomatic healthy children ascertained by clinical and anthropometric criteria) were analysed by v3v4 16S rRNA sequencing, redox and pH measurement and using specific polymerase chain reaction targeting Methanobrevibacter smithii and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Based on the literature and oxydative stress reported in SAM, the investigators tested if the proportion of aerotolerant prokaryotes is increased among gut prokaryotes enriched in SAM in comparison to prokaryotes enriched in controls. The investigators further linked this to fecal redox potential and assessed the total number of bacteria in feces by flux cytometry.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Severe Malnutrition Malnutrition Infant Nutrition Disorders Child Nutrition Disorders Kwashiorkor Marasmus

Interventions

Stool samplesBIOLOGICAL

Stool samples

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMax age: 59 MonthsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria: * Children aged 0-59 months of varying nutritional status from Niamey (Niger) and Dakar (Senegal). Exclusion Criteria: * Absence of parent or patient consent, antibiotic administration \<2 months before stool collection and insufficient fecal amount. Exclusion criteria for controls included any form of malnutrition, presence of fever, acute respiratory infection (cough), acute or chronic diarrhea in the previous 4 weeks. Symptoms and complications of malnutrition (cough, fever, diarrhoea, vomiting) nor other form of malnutrition (moderate to severe stunting and underweight) were not a reason of exclusion for cases since they are considered as direct consequence and part of severe acute malnutrition.

Locations (2)

Hopital National

Niamey, Niger

Clinic Notre Dame de L'Esperance, Thiaroye

Dakar, Senegal

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Aerotolerant Odds ratio (AOR)

AOR = (number of aerotolerant prokaryotes enriched in the gut of children with SAM \* number of obligate anaerobic prokaryotes enriched in controls)/(number of aerotolerant prokaryotes enriched in controls \* number of obligate anaerobic prokaryotes enriched in children with SAM)

Time frame: 1 day (Participants were not followed as this is a case-contol study only clinical and anthropometric data and fecal samples were collected the day of inclusion)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.