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For the first time, scientists described Mexican children's microbiome . Using the most advanced technology , the researchers were able to analyze the genes of the bacterias present in children with obesity or who are overweight and found several differences between them and children with healthy weights.
The scientists , led by Jaime García Mena , from the Genetics and Molecular Biology Department from the Cinvestav , are worried by the increasing childhood obesity rates in the country, which has been described as an epidemic by the World Health Organization . In Mexico , at least 34.4% of children are overweight or have obesity .
To better understand what are the factors behind the epidemic , the experts focused on the study of the genes of the bacteria in the colon of a group of Mexican children between 9 and 11 years. “The group of children with obesity was compared to another group with a normal weight,” García Mena told Tangible.
Bacterias with abundant genes
The study was carried out through the analysis of fecal matter samples through genome sequencing , which was then published in Anaerobe magazine . After analyzing the microbiome , they found that children with obesity have a set of bacterias with a larger number of genes that allow a higher fermentation of the soluble fiber .
“Because of that abundance of genes in the bacterias we identified, children 's large intestine produce more short-chain fatty acids , such as acetic acid and propionic acid . This situation increases the cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the organism, and it contributes to the development of obesity ,” said the scientists . In contrast, in children with normal weights, there is more abundance of genes that produce more straight-chain acids , such as valeric acid and butyric acid , which help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides .
The role of processed food
According to García Mena , the results can be useful in the future. “Even if the sampling was limited, the study will be useful because based on the diet , you can influence the development of a bacterial community in the colon that contributes to weight gain in children who have the microbiota . All this while being treated by nutritionists and health care .” The scientific team is already carrying out a new study to find out if the foods ingested by obese children contain the bacterias identified.
Fiorella Espinosa
, a nutritionist , expert on public health, and the coordinator of the research area of The Power of the Consumer in Mexico, considers that “the study of the microbiome of children is relevant because it confirms that the microbiome plays an important role in obesity .” She adds that during the last decades, there were changes in the behavior of children and their families, such as the consumption of ultra-processed food , the use of formulas instead of breast milk , living in the city, the increase of c-sections instead of natural births, among other factors, which have contributed to the development of the obesity epidemic , although it should be accompanied by an integral public health policy to focus on the different factors that contribute to the epidemic .”
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