Faecal microbiota of schoolchildren is associated with nutritional status and markers of inflammation: a double-blinded cluster-randomized controlled trial using multi-micronutrient fortified riceOriginal 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?
This study examined the relationship between faecal microbiota and nutritional status in schoolchildren using a double-blinded cluster-randomized controlled trial. Researchers tested the impact of six months of consumption of rice fortified with two different levels of vitamins and minerals. The faecal microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing and analyzed against nutritional, micronutrient, inflammatory, and parasitic infection markers. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01706419).
Who was studied?
The study population consisted of 380 Cambodian schoolchildren enrolled in a cluster-randomized trial. Participants were assessed for age, sex, nutritional status (including underweight and stunting), and micronutrient status covering iron, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies. Additional measures included anaemia, iron deficient anaemia, hemoglobinopathy, systemic and gut inflammation, and parasitic infection status.
What were the most important findings?
The faecal microbiota of these schoolchildren showed a surprisingly high proportion of Lactobacillaceae. Deficiencies in specific micronutrients, namely iron and vitamin A, correlated with particular microbiota profiles, while zinc deficiency showed no such association. The six-month rice fortification intervention altered both the composition and the predicted functions of the microbiota, with the two rice treatments producing different effects. The abstract does not report findings related to Desulfovibrio, sulfate-reducing bacteria, or sulfur metabolism.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
These findings suggest that specific micronutrient deficiencies, rather than micronutrient status broadly, are linked to distinct gut microbiota signatures in children. The differential response of microbiota composition and function to two fortification formulations indicates that the type of nutrient fortification matters, not just its presence. This work supports further investigation into how targeted nutritional interventions might be designed to favorably shape childhood gut microbiota and, in turn, nutritional and inflammatory outcomes.