The gut microbiota has been shown to play a role in energy metabolism of the host. Dysbiosis
of the gut microbiota may predispose to obesity on the one hand, and stunting on the
other. The aim of the study was to study the difference in gut microbiota composition of
stunted Indonesian children and children of normal nutritional status between 3 and 5 years.
Fecal samples and anthropometric measurements, in addition to economic and hygiene status
were collected from 78 stunted children and 53 children with normal nutritional status in
two regions in Banten and West Java provinces: Pandeglang and Sumedang, respectively.
The gut microbiota composition was determined by sequencing amplicons of the V3-V4
region of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition was correlated to nutritional status and
anthropometric parameters. Macronutrient intake was on average lower in stunted children,
while energy-loss in the form of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty
acids (BCFA) appeared to be higher in stunted children. In stunted children, at the phylum
level the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (44.4%) was significantly lower than in normal
children (51.3%; p-value 2.55*10−4), while Firmicutes was significantly higher (45.7% vs.
39.8%; p-value 5.89*10−4). At the genus level, overall Prevotella 9 was the most abundant
genus (average of 27%), and it was significantly lower in stunted children than in normal children
(23.5% vs. 30.5%, respectively; q-value 0.059). Thirteen other genera were significantly
different between stunted and normal children (q-value < 0.1), some of which were at
low relative abundance and present in only a few children. Prevotella 9 positively correlated
with height (in line with its higher relative abundance in normal children) and weight. In conclusion,
Prevotella 9, which was the most abundant genus in the children, was significantly
lower in stunted children. The abundance of Prevotella has been correlated with dietary
fibre intake, which was lower in these stunted children. Since fibres are fermented by the gut
microbiota into SCFA, and these SCFA are a source of energy for the host, increasing the
proportion of Prevotella in stunted children may be of benefit. Whether this would prevent
the occurrence of stunting or even has the potential to revert it, remains to be seen in follow
up research
