Childhood undernutrition remains a critical public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It leads to increased morbidity and mortality in childhood and has long-term consequences including an increased risk of chronic diseases.
Apart from inadequate nutrient intake, infections and inflammation contribute to childhood undernutrition. A common cause of chronic inflammation in populations affected by undernutrition is a mostly asymptomatic inflammatory condition of the intestine called environmental enteric dysfunction (EED).
Based on previous studies, the composition of the gut microbiota seems to influence the risk of undernutrition. Environmental factors are known to influence the microbiota composition, but the exact determinants of gut microbiota, especially in low-income settings, are poorly understood.
The aim of Emma Kortekangas’ doctoral dissertation was to study potential determinants of gut microbiota and associations between the microbiota and childhood illnesses and EED in a population with a high prevalence of childhood undernutrition.
“Based on the results, adverse environmental exposures are not associated with impaired microbiota maturation or reduced diversity. However, there seem to be seasonal changes in microbiota composition and a higher education level of mothers seems to be associated with a less diverse gut microbiota in children”, Kortekangas says.
No clear associations between gut microbiota composition and childhood illnesses were found, but several aspects of the gut microbiota composition were associated with EED. It is unclear whether the observed findings are causal and further studies are needed to assess these associations in different populations.
Public defence on Friday 30 may
The doctoral dissertation of Lic. Med. Emma Kortekangas in the field of paediatrics titled Environmental Exposures, Gut Microbiota and Child Health in Rural Malawi will be publicly examined in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University at 11 o’clock on Friday 30.5.2025 at Kauppi campus, Arvo building, Jarmo Visakorpi auditorium (Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere). The Opponent will be professor Kaija-Leena Kolho from University of Helsinki. The Custos will be docent Yuemei Fan from Tampere University.