Improving Nutrition for Babies Born by Caesarean Section

Overview

The ambition of the project is to help with the primal colonisation of babies born by caesarean section and to improve the lipid composition of an infant formula, in order to reduce the short- and long-term health problems associated with caesarean births. This population, which represents around 20% of babies born in France, has not yet received any specific care to date. The study aims to develop an optimized infant formula. It includes: (1) isolation of probiotics from breast milk from nursing mothers and stool samples from their babies born vaginally, (2) formulation of an improved milk enriched with physiological lipids and selected probiotics, and (3) preclinical evaluation of its beneficial effects in a cesarean birth model.

The perinatal period represents a critical window during which the establishment of the infant gut microbiota plays a central role in host physiology and immune system development. Cesarean delivery is associated with altered vertical transmission of maternal microbiota, leading to dysregulated host-microbiota interactions and impaired homeostasis. Epidemiological evidence indicates that disturbances in early-life colonization are linked to an increased risk of developing various non-communicable diseases later in life. Modern obstetric practices, while highly effective in reducing birth complications, have resulted in a high prevalence of cesarean deliveries. Several strategies have been explored to restore the microbiota of cesarean-born infants, including maternal vaginal or fecal microbiota transfer, but these approaches raise significant safety concerns. Breastfeeding has been shown to partially restore the gut microbiota of cesarean-born infants; however, breastfeeding rates are lower after cesarean section than after vaginal delivery, largely due to postnatal complications that interfere with breastfeeding initiation. Although specific infant formulas already exist for certain populations, none are currently designed to address the impaired primary colonization observed in cesarean-born infants. The SPECIFI-C project has been designed to fill this gap by developing an innovative infant formula tailored to the specific needs of this population. The strategy focuses on two main components: (i) optimization of the microbiological fraction through supplementation with beneficial microorganisms isolated from human breast milk and infant feces, and (ii) optimization of the lipid fraction by incorporating bioactive lipids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alkylglycerols, which are naturally present in breast milk but absent from current formulas. The ultimate objective is to provide a safe and effective nutritional intervention that promotes healthy gut colonization and supports immune and physiological development in cesarean-born infants. By targeting a population that represents approximately 20% of births in France, the project aims to contribute to more precise and personalized nutrition strategies, with the potential to reduce both short- and long-term health risks associated with cesarean delivery.