TDNet Discover

Childhood obesity is starting to reach epidemic levels worldwide and there are many factors that influence its development. Current literature discusses a link between delivery via cesarean section and the development of childhood obesity. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine if the difference in gut microbiome for cesarean section versus vaginally delivered infants increase the risk of developing childhood obesity. Three databases were searched independently and in duplicate with established limits and search terms. Articles were then reviewed independently and in duplicate. Final articles were identified and approved by the South College panel, a quality assessment tool was used on all final articles and a data extraction tool was applied to final articles to compile and further analyze the data. The five included studies showed a link between delivery route and gut microbiome, and a link between delivery mode and obesity risk. The composition of infant stool samples of vaginally delivered infants had more Bacteroides than C-section delivered infants and thus allowed more Firmicutes to colonize the gut of the infants delivered via C-section. Firmicutes may contribute to the development of fat cells and this difference in gut microbiome appears to increase the risk of development of childhood obesity. Vaginal deliveries were shown to be protective against obesity, while elective C-sections resulted in a greater risk of childhood obesity than emergency C-sections. Further research needs to be done on this topic, specifically the degree to which this gut microbiome colonization alteration has on the development of childhood obesity in order forthis research to be applied in a clinical setting to determine what delivery method is superior