The Learning Lead - Volume 3, 2024: "Restoring Gut Health in C-Section Infants: Exploring the Role of Nutrition Modulators"

The mode of delivery is influenced the development of an infant’s gut microbiome. Infants born via the caesarean-section (CS) often experience "dysbiosis", an altered gut microbiota due to the interruption of beneficial bacteria transmission from the mother to the infant, resulting in a distinct composition compared to vaginally born infants. This can affect the infants’ immune system and brain development. In addition to delivery method, diet is a key modifiable factor influencing the composition of the gut microbiota. Clinical studies showed that infant nutrition including prebiotics such as Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) and Milk Oligosaccharides (MOS), as well as probiotics Bifidobacterium lactis can help to address the altered gut microbiota and support the immune system of CS-born infants.