Gut microbiota dysbiosis in 4‐ to 6‐year‐old children with obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome

Abstract

Objective Several experiments on animals have reported the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and gut microbiota. We investigated the gut microbiota composition of children aged 4–6 years with OSAHS to complement the pathogenesis and clinical screening methods of OSAHS. Methods We collected feces from 43 children with OSAHS and 45 controls aged 4–6 years. We extracted total bacterial DNA from feces and analyzed the composition of gut microbiota through 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Results There were significant differences in bacteria producing short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) between OSAHS children and controls, including Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and a member of Ruminococcaceae. A gut microbiota model for pediatric OSAHS screening showed that the receiver operating characteristic‐area under the curve (ROC‐AUC) was 0.794 with 79.1% and 80.0% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Functional analysis of the gut microbiota revealed several alterations in metabolism. Conclusion The composition of gut microbiota in OSAHS children is partially changed. The altered intestinal flora may provide a new screening method for the diagnosis of children with OSAHS. The prediction of gut microbiota function suggests that intestinal metabolic function may be altered in OSAHS children.

Pediatric pulmonology year in review 2022: Sleep medicine

“…The authors discussed that these findings may be related to the altered gut environment in OSAHS, as well as the potential impact of gut dysbiosis on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which are known to be associated with OSAHS. The study also highlighted the need for further research to explore the potential therapeutic value of manipulating gut microbiota in OSAHS 51 . Following gut microbiota, Salivary microbiota is the second most abundant microbiota in humans.…”

“…However, the study had some limitations, such as the use of actigraphy for only two nights, which may not accurately reflect sleep patterns, and the sampling of fecal microbiota only once, which may not capture cyclic variations over time 50 . The second study by Wu et al 51 investigated the gut microbiota profile of children with obstructive sleep apnea‐hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), a condition characterized by intermittent hypoxemia, which can lead to gut dysbiosis and an inflammatory state of the impaired gut wall barrier. The study included 43 children aged 4–6 with OSAHS and 45 healthy controls in China, and the researchers used 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing to analyze the gut microbiota.…”

“…The study also highlighted the need for further research to explore the potential therapeutic value of manipulating gut microbiota in OSAHS. 51 Following gut microbiota, Salivary microbiota is the second most abundant microbiota in humans. This was also studied in children with OSA prospectively by Huang et al 52 The study included 36 children with OSA and 22 controls.…”

“…However, the study had some limitations, such as the use of actigraphy for only two nights, which may not accurately reflect sleep patterns, and the sampling of fecal microbiota only once, which may not capture cyclic variations over time. 50 The second study by Wu et al 51 the gut microbiota. The results showed that the OSAHS group had a relatively higher abundance of Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, while the abundance of a member of Ruminococcaceae decreased.…”