Peer-reviewed article
Gut microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids are associated with cognitive development among undernourished infants in Northern Ghana: a case-control study
Hammond Yaw Addae, Charles Apprey, Alexander Kwarteng ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This study looked at infants in Northern Ghana to see if certain chemicals made by gut bacteria, called short-chain fatty acids, are linked to cognitive development. It compared 132 infants with severe acute malnutrition to 132 healthy infants of similar age and sex. Infants with higher levels of these gut bacteria byproducts in their stool were less likely to show delayed cognitive development. The researchers suggest that breastfeeding, varied diets, or prebiotic supplements might help increase these beneficial compounds in undernourished infants.
Key points
- 18.2% of infants studied showed atypical cognitive development
- Higher acetate levels were linked to 12% lower odds of atypical cognitive development
- Higher propionate levels were linked to 25% lower odds of atypical cognitive development
- Higher butyrate levels were linked to 28% lower odds of atypical cognitive development
- All associations were statistically significant (p<0.001)
Limitations
This is an observational case-control study showing associations, not proof that these gut compounds directly cause better cognitive outcomes; no intervention was tested to confirm the suggested strategies would work.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Infant undernutrition is linked to cognitive deficits and reduced future economic productivity. This makes mitigating its effects on neurodevelopment an important health priority. The gut microbiome is hypothesised to influence host physiology, including brain function, through the production of microbial metabolites such as the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, direct epidemiological evidence linking SCFAs to infants’ cognitive development remains scarce in low-resourced settings. This study aimed to assess the association between SCFA concentrations and infants’ (6 to 23 months) cognitive development at a tertiary hospital in Northern Ghana. This age- and sex-matched case-control study included 132 infants admitted with severe acute malnutrition and 132 healthy counterparts. Cognitive development was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3. Infant faecal SCFAs (acetate, propionate, butyrate) were quantified via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Associations between SCFAs and atypical cognitive development were analysed using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for covariates. The prevalence of atypical cognitive development was 18.2%. The mean age of infants was 14.92 ± 5.13 months. In the adjusted models, each unit increase in acetate (AOR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95), propionate (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63-0.87), and butyrate (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60-0.87) was associated with 12%, 25% and 28% significantly reduced likelihood of atypical cognitive development, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). This study provides evidence that SCFAs may influence cognitive development among infants. Effective strategies are urgently needed to specifically enhance SCFA production among undernourished infants. Such strategies may include continued breastfeeding, diversified dietary intake, or targeted prebiotic supplementation.