Aberrant microbiota signatures precede symptom development in infantile colicOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
Researchers examined whether gut microbiota development differs in infants who go on to develop infantile colic (IC), compared to those who do not, from birth through 2 years.
How was it studied?
In the Dutch INCA prospective cohort, 184 term born infants (30 with IC) gave fecal samples at eight time points from birth to 2 years, analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.
What did they find?
IC infants showed a distinct microbiota, with more Pseudomonadota and less Actinomycetota, persisting up to 6 months; changes were stronger in early onset IC (4 weeks or younger). Late onset IC showed an early Bacteroides surge from day one, and Streptococcus rose during crying peaks around day 30 or 90. First week antibiotic exposure raised Enterococcus and lowered Bifidobacterium.
Why it matters
Microbiota differences preceded colic symptoms, suggesting early gut development, not just crying itself, shapes IC risk and could guide future prevention or treatment strategies.