Children with idiopathic short stature and growth hormone deficiency exhibit similar changes in gut microbiota

Children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) exhibit imbalances in gut microbiota (GM), and the latter is related to endocrine hormones (such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)). The current study investigated the compositional and functional variations in GM between children with ISS and GHD, employing 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Sequencing results from 15 children with ISS and 18 children with GHD indicated no significant differences in GM alpha diversity or phylum-level diversity between the ISS and GHD groups. At the genus level, the abundance of Terrisporobacter was significantly greater in the ISS group compared to the GHD group, whereas the abundance of Acidovorax was reduced. The abundance of Prevotella stercorea and uncultured Sutterella sp. at the species level was significantly lower in the ISS group compared to the GHD group. The third level (L3) of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database revealed functional variations in GM, with children in the ISS group having higher levels of intestinal bacteria Mobility Proteins and Background Chemotaxis. Despite these differences, the overall composition and function of GM between ISS and GHD children were not significantly different, indicating that the mechanisms by which GM influences the growth and development of children in both groups may be similar. This study was registered with the Medical Research Registration and Record System with the registration number MR-44-24-045472.