Covid lockdowns had an impact on the gut microbiome development of babies born during these periods, according to new research from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Children’s Health Ireland and APC Microbiome Ireland (APC).

 

The gut microbiome, an ecosystem of microbes that live in our digestive tract, plays an essential role in human health.

 

The study, published in Allergy, is the first to specifically explore the gut health of newborns in the pandemic.

 

It revealed significant differences in the microbiome development of babies born during lockdown periods when compared to pre-pandemic babies. Babies born during lockdown also had lower than expected rates of allergic conditions, such as food allergies. 

 

The findings highlighted gut health benefits for ‘pandemic babies’ arising from the unique environment of lockdown, including lower rates of infection and consequent antibiotic use, and increased duration of breastfeeding.

 

The newborns were found to have more of the beneficial microbes acquired after birth from their mother. These maternal microbes could be playing a protective role against allergic diseases.