Study on the mechanism of the gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acids axis in lactose intolerance in infants
10.3969/j.issn.1671-8348.2025.08.023
- VernacularTitle:婴幼儿乳糖不耐受的肠道菌群-短链脂肪酸轴机制研究
- Author:
Yuyin CHANG
1
;
Tailing LU
;
Ming LU
;
Donglin SHEN
Author Information
1. 徐州医科大学附属医院儿科,江苏 徐州 221000
- Keywords:
lactose intolerance;
infants;
gut microbiota;
short-chain fatty acids;
stool
- From:
Chongqing Medicine
2025;54(8):1894-1898,1903
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the mechanism of the gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acid axis in the heterogeneity of lactose intolerance(LI)in infants.Methods A total of 138 children diagnosed with LI due to diarrhea in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2024 to April 2025 were selected as the research subjects.According to the severity of LI,they were divided into the mild LI group(n=68)and the severe LI group(n=70),and then 50 healthy children who received health care during the same period were selected as the healthy control group.The structure of the intestinal flora was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing,the content of short-chain fatty acids in feces was quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),and an infant intestinal organoid model was established to verify the functional mech-anism of key short-chain fatty acids.Results Compared with the healthy control group,the Shannon index,the abundance of Bifidobacterium,and the ratio of Bifidobacterium to Escherichia coli abundance(B/E)in the mild LI group and the severe LI group were lower,and the severe LI group was lower than the mild LI group(P<0.05).Compared with the healthy control group,the Escherichia coli/Shigella abundance was higher in the mild LI group and the severe LI group,and the severe LI group was higher than the mild LI group(P<0.05).Compared with the healthy control group,the levels of total short-chain fatty acids,acetic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid in the mild LI group and the severe LI group were lower,and those in the severe LI group were lower than those in the mild LI group(P<0.05).The multiple linear regression predic-tion model showed that the frequency of diarrhea=6.80-0.17×butyric acid+0.25×Escherichia coli-0.31×Bifidobacterium.The area under the curve of the prediction efficacy of this model was 0.89(95%CI:0.83-0.94).Compared with the control intestinal cells,the levels of transepithelial layer resistance(TEER)and tight junction protein(Claudin)-3 in the intestinal cells treated with lactose were lower,and the level of IL-8 was higher.However,the levels of TEER and Claudin-3 in the intestinal cells treated with lactose+bu-tyric acid were higher than those in the intestinal cells treated with lactose,and the level of IL-8 was lower(P<0.05).Conclusion The imbalance of intestinal flora and butyric acid deficiency jointly lead to the differ-ences in LI symptoms in infants and young children.
