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The relationship of prenatal and infant antibiotic exposure with childhood overweight and obesity: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2019

Ruth Baron Open the ORCID record for Ruth Baron [Opens in a new window] ,
Meron Taye ,
Isolde Besseling-van der Vaart ,
Joanne Ujčič-Voortman ,
Hania Szajewska ,
Jacob C. Seidell  and
Arnoud Verhoeff
Ruth Baron
Affiliation:
Public Health Service Amsterdam, Sarphati Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Meron Taye
Affiliation:
Public Health Service Amsterdam, Sarphati Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Isolde Besseling-van der Vaart
Affiliation:
Winclove Probiotics B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Joanne Ujčič-Voortman
Affiliation:
Public Health Service Amsterdam, Sarphati Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Hania Szajewska
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
Jacob C. Seidell
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Arnoud Verhoeff*
Affiliation:
Public Health Service Amsterdam, Sarphati Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*
Address for correspondence: Email: averhoeff@ggd.amsterdam.nl
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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the evidence regarding the relationship between early-life antibiotic exposure and childhood overweight/obesity by reviewing observational studies on prenatal antibiotic exposure and systematic reviews on infant antibiotic exposure. A search in Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar covering the period 1st January till 1st December 2018 led to the identification of five studies on prenatal antibiotic exposure and four systematic reviews on infant antibiotic exposure. Positive trends between prenatal antibiotic exposure and overweight/obesity were reported in all studies; two studies reported a significant overall relationship and the other three reported significant relationships under certain conditions. Effect sizes ranged from odds ratio (OR): 1.04 (0.62–1.74) to relative risk (RR): 1.77 (1.25–2.51). Regarding infant antibiotics, one review concluded there was substantial evidence that infant antibiotic exposure increased the risk of childhood overweight/obesity [pooled effect sizes: RR: 1.21 (1.09–1.33) for overweight and RR: 1.18 (1.12–1.25) for obesity]. Two reviews concluded there was some evidence for a relationship [pooled effect sizes: OR: 1.05 (1.00–1.11) and OR: 1.11 (1.02–1.20)]. The fourth review concluded the studies were too heterogeneous for meta-analyses and the evidence regarding the relationship between infant antibiotic exposure and childhood overweight/obesity was inconclusive. More well-designed studies are needed that include data on intra-partum antibiotics and address important potential confounders (including maternal and childhood infections). This review points to some evidence of a relationship between early-life antibiotic exposure and childhood overweight/obesity; this is especially evident in certain children (i.e. exposed to multiple and broad-spectrum antibiotics, earlier postnatal exposure and male gender) and merits further research.

Keywords

Early lifeantibioticsmicrobiomeoverweight and obesitychronic diseases
Type
Review
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , August 2020 , pp. 335 - 349
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2019

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Footnotes

*

Members of the Sarphati Amsterdam/Warsaw group on ANtibiotic long-Term Impact (SAWANTI): (in alphabetical order) Ruth Baron, Isolde Besseling-van der Vaart, Dorota Gieruszczak-Białek, Andrea Horvath, Jan Łukasik, Maciej Kołodziej, Bernadeta Patro-Gołąb, Małgorzata Pieścik-Lech, Jacob C Seidell, Agata Skórka, Hania Szajewska, Meron Taye, Joanne Ujčič-Voortman, and Arnoud Verhoeff

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