The significance of nutrition education for early childhood from the perspective of oral microbiota

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K09867
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57070:Developmental dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Sakurai Atsuo 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (90431759)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 新谷 誠康 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (90273698) ; 本間 宏実 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (80637760)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 齲蝕 / 小児 / 食育 / 細菌叢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, samples were taken from the same participants immediately after birth over time and the changes of their microbiota were analysed. Our results showed that a microbiota consisting of about 10 at the genus level was observed in the oral cavity on the day of birth, and that it approached the adult microbiota in the early years up to approximately two years of age, after which the changes became smaller and smaller. Therefore, it was suggested that the establishment of a healthy microbiota in early childhood is important for reducing the risk of oral and systemic diseases in later life and for maintaining good health.

Free Research Field

小児歯科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乳幼児期は口腔の細菌叢の形成時期に当たる。そのためこの時期に適切な食習慣や生活習慣を通じ、正しい口腔内細菌叢を構築するための環境作りが、健全な顎口腔機能の育成に重要である。口腔内に形成される細菌叢はその地点または近い将来の口腔・全身疾患の罹患リスクを反映していると考えられるが、３歳未満で齲蝕が生じるような小児では、早期に食習慣の改善を図らなければ、その後生涯にわたって口腔疾患のリスクが高い状態が続きかねない。そのため適切な食習慣や生活習慣を早期に身につけることが望まれる。