Changes in gut microbiota were observed at diagnosis in children with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), a non-IgE-mediated food allergy affecting infants and young children. Researchers analyzed fecal samples from 56 FPIES patients and 43 healthy controls using 16S rRNA sequencing.
Children with FPIES showed significantly reduced levels of Bifidobacterium, a beneficial gut bacterium, alongside elevated Bacteroides, Haemophilus, and Veillonella. Shifts in major bacterial phyla including Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Verrucomicrobiota contributed to these disparities.
Notably, lower Verrucomicrobiota levels correlated with specific food triggers, suggesting microbial-diet interactions in disease expression. The findings support the role of microbial dysbiosis in early immune system disruption.
The cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether probiotics or dietary interventions could reduce FPIES risk.