Altered Gut Microbiome and Environmental Factors Associated with Development of Eczema in Hong Kong Infants: A 4-Month Pilot Study

Carmen Wing Han Chan, Judy Yuet Wa Chan, Ting Fan Leung, Kai Chow Choi, Stephen Kwok Wing Tsui, Cho Lee Wong and Ka Ming Chow
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Carmen Wing Han Chan: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Judy Yuet Wa Chan: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Ting Fan Leung: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Kai Chow Choi: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Stephen Kwok Wing Tsui: School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Cho Lee Wong: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Ka Ming Chow: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Eczema is a multifactorial skin disease that affects 20% of children worldwide and has a complex relationship with microbial, nutritional, parental and environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the potential association of eczema with the gut microbiome and environmental factors. One hundred and fifty-two newborn subjects and their mothers were recruited within 10 days postnatally at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, China and asked to complete questionnaires on allergies, maternal diet and environmental assessment at enrolment. Then, the participants were classified as with or without eczema at four months after birth based on the Comprehensive Early Childhood Allergy Questionnaire (CECAQ) and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index ( n = 48, with 24 in each group). Stool samples were collected from both groups at the same time. Microbial DNA was extracted from each stool sample, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyze the gut microbiome profiles of the subjects. Our results indicated that the abundance of Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the eczema group than in the control group ( p = 0.04). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the results showed that the father’s education level and maternal intake of cereal products and nutritional supplements during pregnancy were associated with the development of eczema ( p = 0.008, 0.032 and 0.015, respectively). In conclusion, this study provided preliminary information about the potential risk factors of eczema development in Hong Kong infants in support of a future full study.

Keywords: eczema; gut microbiome; maternal diet; environmental factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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