Eating Ultra-Processed Foods in Early Childhood Alters Gut Microbiota and Promotes Harmful Bacteria

A recent study conducted in Brazil highlights the significant impact of ultra-processed foods on the gut health of young children. The research involved 728 children up to one year of age from the Amazon region and demonstrated that consumption of highly processed foods can disrupt the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota, especially in children who are not breastfed.

Published in the journal Clinical Nutrition as part of the MINA Study—an ongoing cohort tracking children born in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre—this research provides crucial insights into early childhood nutrition and gut health. The study found that children still receiving breast milk exhibited higher levels of Bifidobacterium, a beneficial bacteria linked to good gut health. Conversely, children who lacked breastfeeding support and consumed ultra-processed items such as packaged snacks, cookies, chocolate drinks, soft drinks, artificial juices, ice cream, and instant noodles, showed increased levels of bacteria genera like Selimonas and Finegoldia. These bacteria are typically associated with obesity and gastrointestinal disorders later in life.

Lucas Faggiani, the study's first author and a doctoral student at the University of São Paulo’s School of Public Health, explained that breastfeeding appeared to mitigate the negative effects of ultra-processed food intake. Children who were breastfed and abstained from ultra-processed products maintained a more stable and healthier microbiota, characterized by a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium. This stability is crucial during the first year of life, which is a critical period for immune system development.

The study also detected markers indicating early microbiota maturity, such as increased Firmicutes genus presence in non-breastfed children, and noted that many children consume ultra-processed foods well before the WHO recommends avoiding these products until age two. Dr. Marly Cardoso, a professor involved in the project, emphasized the importance of continued monitoring to assess potential long-term health implications, given the early adoption of unhealthy eating habits.

Samples collected between 2016 and 2017 were analyzed using advanced genome sequencing techniques. The findings revealed not only differences in beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium but also higher occurrences of bacteria like Blautia in non-breastfed and ultra-processed-fed children. While some genera like Blautia are under investigation for their health effects, there remains a lack of conclusive evidence on their exact roles.

This study is notable for its large, population-based cohort in a socially vulnerable Amazonian region, providing valuable data on a segment often underrepresented in nutrition research. The researchers highlight the urgent need to promote breastfeeding and limit ultra-processed food intake during the first years of life to support healthy microbiota development and overall health.

As the research continues, the team aims to follow these children over time to better understand long-term health outcomes related to early dietary choices.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-consumption-ultra-foods-young-children.html