Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children

Purpose: This study aimed to identify changes in bacterial populations within the gut microbiota of obese children and to evaluate the effects of obesity on gut microbiota composition. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 50 children admitted to the Pediatric Clinic of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Training and Research Hospital. The study group consisted of 25 children classified as obese according to the body mass ındex (BMI) criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), while the control group included 25 children with normal BMI. Target microorganisms such as total bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Gram-negative bacteria were analyzed using culture and molecular methods. Statistical analyses were performed to assess changes in the gut microbiota population. Results: In obese children, numerical increases were observed in the total bacteria, Enterococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas numerical decreases were noted in Bifidobacterium spp. and Staphylococcus spp.. A negative correlation was found between age and total bacterial count, while a positive correlation was observed between age and BMI. Additionally, positive correlations were detected between total bacteria and Enterococcus spp., also, between Lactobacillus spp. and Enterococcus spp. Conclusion: These findings suggest that early monitoring and management of the gut microbiota could offer new opportunities in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, in addition, interventions to regulate the microbiota could also be considered as promising approaches for the prevention and management of obesity.