Early-life exposure to disinfectants may increase risk of childhood obesity through alterations in gut bacteria
Commonly used household cleaning products could be making children overweight by altering their gut microbiota, suggests a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
The study analyzed the gut flora of 757 infants from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) birth cohort at age 3-4 months and weight at ages 1 and 3 years. It also surveyed their exposure to disinfectants, detergents and eco-friendly products used in the home. Researchers used World Health Organization growth charts for body mass index (BMI) scores.
Frequent use of multisurface cleaners (disinfectants) were strongly associated with altered gut flora in babies at 3-4 months age. The gut had lower levels of Haemophilus and Clostridium bacteria but higher levels of Lachnospiraceae. Detergents or eco-friendly cleaners were not found to have same associations. Studies on exposure of aerosol disinfectants in piglets had found similar changes in the gut microbiome.
Babies living in households that used eco-friendly cleaners had different microbiota and were less likely to be overweight as kids.
“We found that infants living in households with disinfectants being used at least weekly were twice as likely to have higher levels of the gut microbes Lachnospiraceae at age 3-4 months; when they were 3 years old, their body mass index was higher than children not exposed to heavy home use of disinfectants as an infant,” said Anita Kozyrskyj, a University of Alberta pediatrics professor, and principal investigator of the study.
Babies living in households that used eco-friendly cleaners had different microbiota and were less likely to be overweight as kids. Authors suggested that the use of eco-friendly products may be linked to healthier overall maternal lifestyles and eating habits, contributing in turn to the healthier gut microbiomes and weight of their infants.
“Antibacterial cleaning products have the capacity to change the environmental microbiome and alter risk for child overweight,” wrote the authors. “Our study provides novel information regarding the impact of these products on infant gut microbial composition and outcomes of overweight in the same population.”
Inability to classify cleaning products by their actual ingredients was the limitation of the study.
