Factors affecting the intestinal flora of children

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24288
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Tamada Hazuki 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 助教 (70581403)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: JECS / 腸内菌叢 / 食生活 / 子ども

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted as an Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). The objectives of this study were twofold: "to understand the actual situation of the composition of intestinal microflora in children" and "to elucidate the factors that influence the composition of intestinal microflora in children". In conducting this study, we examined methods for collecting and storing samples (feces) that are feasible in a large-scale epidemiological survey. Fecal specimens collected from the children participating in the study (2nd grade elementary school students) and the results of the bacterial flora analysis were analyzed together with factors such as diet to examine the factors that may influence the composition of the bacterial flora.

Free Research Field

栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、腸内菌叢とヒトの健康との関連について関心が高まっている。成人における腸内菌叢研究では、肥満やメタボリックシンドローム、循環器疾患、がんなどとの関連が示されているが、小児期における腸内菌叢については未解明な部分が多い。本研究においては、子どもの腸内菌叢構成を明らかにし、これに影響を与えうる因子を解明することを目的としているが、これは、小児期以降の多様な健康・疾患と腸内菌叢との関連を解明するさらなる研究へ発展可能であり、将来的には、腸内菌叢を介した健康増進や疾患予防方法の確立への貢献に資するものである。