Neonatal antibiotic exposure impairs child growth during the first six years of life by perturbing intestinal microbial colonization

This study investigates the long-term impact of neonatal antibiotic treatment on child growth. Researchers found significant attenuation of weight and height gain in boys during the first six years of life after neonatal antibiotic exposure, but not in girls, after adjusting for confounders. Antibiotic use after the neonatal period was associated with higher body mass index. Neonatal antibiotic exposure was linked to differences in the gut microbiome, particularly decreased Bifidobacterium. Fecal microbiota transplant from antibiotic-exposed children to germ-free male mice resulted in growth impairment. The study concludes that neonatal antibiotic exposure is associated with long-term gut microbiome perturbation and reduced growth in boys, while later antibiotic use is linked to increased BMI.

Atara Uzan-Yulzari, Olli Turtā, Anna Belogolovski, Oren Ziv, Christina Kunz, Sarah Perschbacher, Hadar Neuman, Edoardo Pasolli, Aia Oz, Hila Ben-Amram, Himanshu Kumar, Helena Ollila, Anne Kaljonen, Erika Isolauri, Seppo Salminen, Hanna Lagström, Nicola Segata, Itai Sharon, Yoram Louzoun, Regina Ensenauer, Samuli Rautava, Omry Koren