Human microbiome variation associated with race and ethnicity emerges as early as 3 months of age

https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.3002230&utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=270760454&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ldLFDS1LBMkN7VUJEKzwe3WJrVtyFpJnUCrjPEyi3zP2IAwomYs3hEWBy4UuvqHVC1QwK2-SSluc-qdPZpD1bSPe39A&utm_content=270760453&utm_source=hs_email STAT’s Annalisa Merelli brings this report: The gut microbiome differences associated with certain races and ethnicities are likely due to environmental and social exposures, according to a new PLOS Biology study. The study found that such variations are not present at birth and for the first weeks of life, even as this is when mother-to-infant direct microbial transmission (through breastfeeding, for example) is strongest. Instead, the changes begin emerging at three months, suggesting external factors influence it. The childhood gut microbiome can affect the immune system and metabolic development later in life, so the factors that shape the microbiome early on could contribute to future ethnic and racial health disparities. Psychosocial stressors, socioeconomic status, environmental pollutants are all tied to health disparities, but further studies are necessary to identify which of these, if any, has an impact on gut microbiome development.