WCO IOF-ESCEO 2025: The Gut Microbiome in Early Life and Bone Health at 6 Years: Findings from A Danish Birth Cohort Study

This study explored the association between the gut microbiome and bone health in children. Infant gut microbiome data from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood was analyzed at 1 week (n=445), 1 month (n=492), 1 year (n=509), 4 years (n=350), and 6 years (n=327) via 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Bone health at age six was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for total body less head  bone mineral density (BMD) and area-adjusted bone mineral content (aBMC).

Higher alpha-diversity at 1 yr was linked to lower BMD (β = -1.8×10⁻³, CI [-3.4×10⁻³, -1.5×10⁻⁴]) and at 4 yrs to lower BMD (β = -1.4×10⁻³, CI [-2.7×10⁻³, -7.7×10⁻⁵]) & aBMC (β = -1.8, CI [-3.2, -0.4]). Beta-diversity at 6 years was associated with BMD (F = 1.9, p = 0.026). Escherichia-Shigella was 1.7-fold more abundant in 1-month-olds with low BMD (adjusted p = 0.038), and each unit increase in Sutterella at 1 year corresponded to 2.2 g lower aBMC (CI [-3.4, -1.0]). No other taxa showed significant associations. 

Early-life gut microbiome shows limited influence on bone health at age six despite some observed associations.

Reference 

P1238 The Gut Microbiome In Early Life And Bone Health At 6 Years: Findings From A Danish Birth Cohort Study .World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO IOF-ESCEO 2025), April 10-13, 2025, Rome Italy.