Childhood growth trajectory patterns are associated with the pubertal gut microbiota

The relationship between growth and gut microbiota establishment is critical but under-investigated during late childhood. This is an important knowledge gap since the adult microbiota connects with other organs to influence health. We studied gut microbial communities composition and dietary patterns in 13 years old males and females from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort (Brazil). We had previously shown that three BMIZ and HAZ patterns of growth since birth are present in this cohort, reflecting the nutritional status of these children. Here, we show that there is an association between growth patterns and gut microbiota, which encompasses the five pubertal stages, and which is affected by sex. Using Partial Least Square Path Modelling, we also show that there is a strong relationship between dietary patterns and gut microbiota, in males but not females. These data provide the microbiota and dietary profiles of highly phenotyped children and highlight the importance of childhood growth and sex for the maturation of the gut microbiota and long-term healthy growth. The role of pubertal diet in the relationships identified, further underlies the importance of dietary patterns establishment during adolescence while providing an opportunity for late modification of growth-microbiota relationships. ### Competing Interest Statement EMC reports grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research while this study was being conducted, has received research support from Lallemand Health Solutions and Ocean Spray, and consultant fees or speaker and travel support from Danone and Lallemand Health Solutions (All are outside of this study). ### Funding Statement This research was supported by the Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. The 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort was supported by the Wellcome Trust from 2009 to 2012, the World Health Organization, National Support Program for Centers of Excellence (PRONEX), Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq), Brazilian Ministry of Health, and Children's Pastorate. EMC was awarded the Lawson Family Chair in Microbiome Nutrition Research at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. LLD is a recipient of scholarships from the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Mexico and the Peterborough K. M. Hunter Charitable Foundation. ISS, AM and AJDB are supported by CNPq. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas gave ethical approval for the 2004 Pelotas Birth cohort study and for all follow-ups (96.020-360, 96.030-001, 70.750-521). Ethics Committee of the University of Toronto (#36176) and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (#1000059180) gave ethical approval for this work. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data that support the findings of this study are available from the 2004 Pelotas Birth cohort study investigators, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available upon reasonable request and with permission of the 2004 Pelotas Birth cohort research committee. Analytical code will be shared upon publication in a peer reviewed journal.