Associations of\nStool Metal Exposures with Childhood\nGut Microbiome Multiomics Profiles in a Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Metal exposures are closely related to childhood developmental\nhealth. However, their effects on the childhood gut microbiome, which\nalso impacts health, are largely unexplored using microbiome multiomics\nincluding the metagenome and metatranscriptome. This study examined\nthe associations of fecal profiles of metal/element exposures with\ngut microbiome species and active functional pathways in 8- to 12-year-old\nchildren (<i>N</i> = 116) participating in the GESTation\nand Environment (GESTE) cohort study. We analyzed 19 stool metal and\nelement concentrations (B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni,\nCu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Ba, and Pb). Covariate-adjusted linear regression\nmodels identified several significant microbiome associations with\ncontinuous stool metal/element concentrations. For instance, Zn was\npositively associated with <i>Turicibacter sanguinis</i> (coef = 1.354, <i>q</i>-value = 0.039) and negatively\nassociated with <i>Eubacterium eligens</i> (coef = −0.794, <i>q</i>-value = 0.044). Higher concentrations of Cd were associated\nwith lower <i>Eubacterium eligens</i> (coef = −0.774, <i>q</i>-value = 0.045). Additionally, a total of 490 significant\nfunctional pathways such as biosynthesis and degradation/utilization/assimilation\nwere identified, corresponding to different functions, including amino\nacid synthesis and carbohydrate degradation. Our results suggest links\namong metal exposures, pediatric gut microbiome multiomics, and potential\nhealth implications. Future work will further explore their relation\nto childhood health.