The Effect Of Partially Hydrolyzed Formula Containing Bifidobacterium Breve M-16V On The Gut Microbiota Of Toddlers With Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy History

Objectives:To evaluate the alterations in the gut microbiota of a specific partially hydrolyzed formula containing Bifidobacterium breve M-16V(M-16V)for toddlers with cow’s milk protein allergy(CMPA)history and compared them with healthy toddlers fed with regular intact protein formula and human milk.Methods:1.In the p HF group,forty-three toddlers with CMPA history in mild-moderate levels,who met the inclusion criteria in the Child Health Care Department of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2021 to October 2022,were enrolled and fed with partially hydrolyzed formula containing M-16 V for 3 months.In the IF group,45 healthy breastfed toddlers were enrolled and voluntarily switched to regular intact protein formula feeding for 3 months,while in the HM group,21 healthy breastfed toddlers were enrolled and kept on breastfeeding for 3 months.2.Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect general information questionnaires from the three groups of toddlers,and stool samples were collected at the baseline and after 1 and 3-month feeding,respectively.The alteration in the gut microbiota was measured by 16 S r DNA sequencing,and P<0.05 indicated that the significantly difference among groups.Results:1.After 3 months of feeding with partially hydrolyzed formula containing M-16 V in the CMPA group,the richness(P>0.05)and diversity(P<0.05)of gut microbiota was increased.The gut microbiota composition of the toddlers with CMPA history was significantly altered along with the feeding of partially hydrolyzed formula containing M-16V(P<0.05).At the phylum level,the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota was increased,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).At the class level,the abundance of Bacillus was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Seventy-four key operational taxonomic units(OTUs)with high abundance were identified in this study,and 39 of them were grouped into seven clusters by short time-series expression miner(STEM)analysis according to their change trends among the different time points,and we found that the abundance of Bacteroides,Clostridium sensu stricto and Clostridium innocuum was gradually decreased,while the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Bifidobacterium breve was increased over time,and the abundance of Lachnospiraceae,Veillonellaceae,Bacteroidaceae,Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae showed highest abundance after 1-month feeding(P>0.05).2.The difference in community richness index between the CMPA toddlers(p HF group)and healthy toddlers(HM and IF groups)was statistically significant at the baseline(P<0.05),and after 3 months of feeding,no significantly difference was observed among groups(P>0.05).Principal co-ordinates analysis(PCo A)showed that there was a significant difference between the gut microbiota of toddlers with CMPA history and healthy toddlers at the baseline(P<0.05),while 3-month feeding eliminated these differences(P>0.05).Compared to IF group,this specific partially hydrolyzed formula feeding shifted the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in phylum level and Clostridia,Bacteroidia and Negativicutes in class level closer to HM group.In addition,this specific partially hydrolyzed formula increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid producers,especially butyric acid-producing bacteria,and the abundance of Streptococcus,Butyriccoccus,Roseburia,and Ruminococcus showed similar trends between toddlers in PHF and HM groups.Conclusion:1.This specific partially hydrolyzed formula improved the gut microbiota of Chinese toddlers with CMPA history,with increased abundance of beneficial bacteria,especially butyric acid producers.2.This specific partially hydrolyzed formula partly simulated the beneficial effects of HM and shifted the gut microbiota of toddlers with CMPA history towards that of healthy individuals.