A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Severity of atopic disease inversely correlates with intestinal microbiota diversity and butyrate-producing bacteria.
Authors: Nylund L, Nermes M, Isolauri E, Salminen S, de Vos WM, Satokari R.
Publication year: 2015
Journal: Allergy
Volume: 70
Issue: 2
First page : 241
Last page: 244
Number of pages: 4
ISSN: 0105-4538
eISSN: 1398-9995
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.12549
The reports on atopic diseases and microbiota in early childhood remain contradictory and both decreased and increased microbiota diversity have been associated with atopic eczema. In this study, the intestinal microbiota signatures associated with the severity of eczema in 6-month-old infants were characterized. Further, the changes in intestinal microbiota composition related to the improvement of this disease 3 months later were assessed. The severity of eczema correlated inversely with microbiota diversity (r=-0.54, P=0.002) and with the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria (r= -0.52, P=0.005). During the 3 months follow-up, microbiota diversity increased (P<0.001) and SCORAD values decreased (P<0.001) in all infants. This decrease coincided with the increase in bacteria related to butyrate-producing Coprococcus eutactus (r= -0.59, P=0.02). In conclusion, the high diversity of microbiota and high abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria were associated with milder eczema, thus suggesting they have a role in alleviating symptoms of atopic eczema.