The association of gut microbiota with body weight and body mass index in preschool children of Estonia

Figures & data

Table 1. Clinical data (birth-weight, breast-feeding, body weight, height, and BMI of 5-year-old children)

	Children born in different years
Clinical data	Group 1: born in 1993–1994 (n=40; mean±std dev)	Group 2: born in 1996–1997 (n=11; mean±std dev)	P
Birth-weight (g)	3,573±587	3,527±457	0.813
Breast-fed (months)	6±2	7±5	0.731
Body weight (kg)	19.2±2.3	21. 9±4.6	0.064
Body height (cm)	112.7±4.1	114.1±4.7	0.329
BMI (kg/m^2)	15.1±1.3	16.7±2.5	0.006

Table 2. The prevalence (%), the counts (log10; CFU/g), and relative share (%) of gut microorganisms in children born in different years

	Children born in different years
	Group 1: born in 1993–1994 (n=40)		Group 2: born in 1996–1997 (n=11)		All children (n=51)
Microorganisms	Prevalence number (%)	Counts (log CFU/g); median range	Prevalence number (%)	Counts (log CFU/g) median (range	Prevalence number (%)	Counts (log CFU/g) median range	Relative share in total count mean (%) SD
CONS	23 (58)	6.3 (3.3–10.2)	5 (45)	6.0 (5.4–9.3)	28 (54)	6.3 (3.3–10.2)	2.6±6.3
S. aureus	16 (40)	4.9 (3.3–8.3)	2 (18)	5.8 (4.3–7.3)	18 (35)	4.9 (3.3–8.3)	0.08±0.2
Enterococci	27 (68)	6.6 (3.6–10.4)	9 (82)	6.3 (3.3–9.6)	36 (71)	6.6 (3.3–10.4)	3.1±6.0
Enterobacteria	38 (95)	7 (4.3–9.3)	10 (91)	8.2 (5.4–9.6)	48 (94)	7.3 (4.3–9.6)	2.2±4.8
Streptococci	16 (40)	8.6 (4.2–10.1)	8 (73)	6.8 (4.3–10.6)	24 (47)	7.6 (4.2–10.6)	7.1±10.9
Lactobacilli	19 (48)	5.9 (4–10.4)	7 (64)	4.6 (3.3–9.3)	26 (50)	5.5 (3.3–10.4)	3.9±8.8
Anaerobic gram-positive cocci	34 (85)	9.6 (6.3–10.8)	10 (91)	9.3 (7.3–10.3)	44 (86)	9.6 (6.3–10.6)	27.3±22.4
Bifidobacteria	10 (25)	9.3 (6.3–10.6)	3 (27)	8.6 (7.6–9.2)	13 (25)	9.2 (6.3–10.6)	24.7±20.6
Eubacteria	12 (30)	9.3 (7.3–10.3)	6 (55)	9.8 (7.8–10.3)	18 (35)	8.8 (6.8–11.1)	17.6±22.1
Bacteroides	32 (80)	8.6 (3.3–11.1)	11 (100)	10.3 (7.8–11)	43 (84)	9.9 (3.3–11.1)	44.1±29.8
Clostridia	21 (53)	8.0 (3.8–10.3)	8 (72)	8.4 (4.1–10.3)	29 (57)	8.0 (3.8–10.3)	8.7±14.2
Candida	11 (28)	5.3 (3.3–6.6)	1 (9)	3.6	12 (24)	5.2 (3.3–6.6)	0.009±0.02

CONS, coagulase negative staphylococci.

Fig. 1.  Correlation between body weight (kg) of 5-year-old children and relative share (%) of eubacteria, bifidobacteria, and bacteroides.

Table 3. Linear and multiple linear regression analysis between body weight, BMI, and different gut microbes of the children

Variable 1	Variable 2	Linear correlation (r- and p-values)	Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for sex and year of birth (Adj R^2. p-values)
Weight (kg)	Bifidobacteria (log10; CFU/g)	r=0.454, p=0.001	Adj R^2=0.51, p=0.006
	Eubacteria (log10; CFU/g)	r=0.280, p=0.046	Adj R^2=0.448, p=0.033
	Bacteroides (log10; CFU/g)	r=−0.284, p=0.043	Adj R^2=−0.481, p=0.015
BMI (kg/m^2)	Bifidobacteria (log10; CFU/g)	r=0.352, p=0.001	Adj R^2=0.459, p=0.026
	Eubacteria (log10; CFU/g)	r=0.328, p=0.019	Adj R^2=0.484, p=0.014

The indices are adjusted for sex and year of birth.