Investigating the origin of the fetal gut and placenta microbiome in twins.

Objective: It is widely accepted that the microbiota is critical for human well-being; however, the origin of microbiota in the newborn is not well understood. In this study, we hypothesized that within a maternal-twin dyad (MTD) the meconium microbiome will be similar to the placenta microbiome and the meconium microbiome of within MTD will be similar to one another.

Methods: Prospectively, meconium (proxy for fetal gut), placenta and maternal buccal, skin, vaginal, stool samples were collected from a cohort of MTDs at time of delivery hospitalization.

Role of Gut Microbiota and Short Chain Fatty Acids in Modulating Energy Harvest and Fat Partitioning in Youth.

Objective: We aimed at determining the relationship of the gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids with obesity and fat partitioning and at testing potential differences in the ability of gut microbiota to ferment equal amounts of carbohydrates (CHO) between lean and obese youth.

Research Design And Methods: We analyzed the gut microbiota of 84 youth in whom body fat distribution was measured by fast-magnetic resonance imaging, de novo lipogenesis (DNL) quantitated using deuterated water, and the capability of gut flora to ferment CHO was assessed by C-fructose treatment in vitro.

Results: A significant association was found between the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria with body mass index, visceral and SC fat (all P < .