Gut bacteria linked with infant diet, eczema and caesarean section birth

A new study, funded by the British Skin Foundation, has linked gut bacteria with eczema and caesarean section birth.

The Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) study found:

• Babies who had eczema at three months and one year of age showed a higher abundance of a bacterium called Clostridium sensu stricto, compared to those without eczema
• Babies born by caesarean section had a significantly less diverse gut flora, compared to those delivered by normal birth
• The early introduction of allergenic foods (cow’s milk, egg, wheat, peanut, sesame and cod fish) from three months accelerated the development of greater gut bacteria diversity, compared to exclusive breastfeeding

The article outlines the study and its findings, which the authors hope will increase understanding of the role the gut microbiome plays in the development of the immune system from an early age.