Gut Microbiome Stability Tied to Better Growth in Malnourished Children

Malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of childhood death, affecting nearly 150 million children worldwide. While food insecurity is a primary driver, research over the past decade has shown that disrupted gut microbial communities play a key role in stunting and poor growth outcomes.

In a new study published in Cell , investigators from Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine), the Salk Institute, and University of California, San Diego report that toddlers in Malawi with unstable gut microbiomes grew less well than peers with more stable microbial profiles.

“We know gut microbes are important mediators of malnutrition,” said co-senior author Mark Manary, MD, professor of pediatrics at WashU Medicine and an internationally recognized expert in malnutrition.