Development of the gut microbiota in healthy children in the first ten years of life: associations with internalizing and externalizing behavior

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence indicates that psychopathological disorders are associated with the gut microbiota. However, data are largely lacking from long-term longitudinal birth cohorts, especially those comprising low-risk healthy individuals. Therefore, this study aims to describe gut microbiota development in healthy children from birth till age 10 years, as well as to investigate potential associations with internalizing and externalizing behavior. RESULTS: _9 in childhood was positively related to mother-reported externalizing behavior at age 10; this was validated in child reports. CONCLUSIONS: _9), and externalizing behavior at age 10 were found. Replications in other cohorts, as well as follow-up assessments, will help determine the significance of these findings.