Plaza-Diaz, JulioBernal, Maria JoseSchutte, SophieChenoll, EmparGenovés, SalvadorCodoñer, Francisco M.Gil, AngelSanchez-Siles, Luis Manuel2022-12-142022-12-142021-04-28Plaza-Diaz J, Bernal MJ, Schutte S, Chenoll E, Genovés S, Codoñer FM, et al. Effects of Whole-Grain and Sugar Content in Infant Cereals on Gut Microbiota at Weaning: A Randomized Trial. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 28;13(5):1496http://hdl.handle.net/10668/4495The introduction of complementary foods during infancy marks an important step in the development of the infant gut microbiome. Infant cereals are popular weaning foods but consistent evidence on their effect on the intestinal microbiota, especially when differing in nutritional quality, is lacking. Fecal samples from 4-7-month-old Spanish infants who consumed infant cereals differing in whole grain and sugar content as first weaning foods were analyzed on changes in microbial composition by massively parallel sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene at baseline and after 7 weeks of intervention. Samples were obtained from a previous trial conducted in Spain demonstrating whole-grain cereal acceptability. In total, samples of 18 infants consuming 0% whole grain cereals with 24 g sugar (0-WG) and 25 infants consuming 50% whole grain cereals with 12 g sugar (50-WG) were analyzed. Microbial composition changed significantly over time (p = 0.001), per intervention group (p = 0.029) and per infant (p = 0.001). Abundance of genus Veillonella increased in both groups while Enterococcus decreased. Within the 0-WG group, phylum Actinobacteria decreased along with genus Bifidobacterium. In the 50-WG, we observed an increase in Lachnoclostridium and Bacteroides. In addition, 50-WG decreased Proteobacteria and Escherichia to levels lower than 0-WG. Although weaning itself appeared to be responsible for most changes, the increased presence of anaerobic fermenters together with inhibition of pathogenic Escherichia may indicate a supporting effect of infant cereals with 50% whole grains and a reduced sugar content over infant cereals manufactured with refined hydrolyzed flours on the infant microbiota. In fact, using a novel methodology for the identification of microbial signatures, we found two groups of microbial taxa predictive of infants consuming enriched whole-grain infant cereals with a high predictive value of about 93%.enAtribución 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Infant cerealsInfant foodWhole grainsComplementary feedingIntestinal microbiotaGrano comestibleAlimentos para lactantesCereales integralesFenómenos fisiológicos nutricionales del lactanteMicrobioma gastrointestinalEnsayo clínico controlado aleatorioDesteteMicrobiotaMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Carbohydrates::Sugar PhosphatesMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::InfantMedical Subject Headings::Technology and Food and Beverages::Food and Beverages::Food::Foods, Specialized::Infant FoodMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Geographical Locations::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::WeaningMedical Subject Headings::Publication Type::Study Characteristics::Clinical Trial::Randomized Controlled TrialMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::WeaningMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Microbiological Phenomena::Microbiotaresearch article33925049Acceso abierto10.3390/nu130514962072-6643PMC8145071