Research Article

Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children

Volume: 9 Number: 2 August 8, 2025
TR EN

Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify changes in bacterial populations within the gut microbiota of obese children and to evaluate the effects of obesity on gut microbiota composition. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 50 children admitted to the Pediatric Clinic of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Training and Research Hospital. The study group consisted of 25 children classified as obese according to the body mass ındex (BMI) criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), while the control group included 25 children with normal BMI. Target microorganisms such as total bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Gram-negative bacteria were analyzed using culture and molecular methods. Statistical analyses were performed to assess changes in the gut microbiota population. Results: In obese children, numerical increases were observed in the total bacteria, Enterococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas numerical decreases were noted in Bifidobacterium spp. and Staphylococcus spp.. A negative correlation was found between age and total bacterial count, while a positive correlation was observed between age and BMI. Additionally, positive correlations were detected between total bacteria and Enterococcus spp., also, between Lactobacillus spp. and Enterococcus spp. Conclusion: These findings suggest that early monitoring and management of the gut microbiota could offer new opportunities in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, in addition, interventions to regulate the microbiota could also be considered as promising approaches for the prevention and management of obesity.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office

Project Number

TIP.A4.21.014

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: 01.06.2021; numbered 2021-10/11).

Thanks

We would like to thank Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office for the support provided for the realisation of this study.

References

  1. 1. Zsálig D, Berta A, Tóth V, et al. A Review of the Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Obesity. Appl. Sci. 2023;13(1):610.
  2. 2. Geng J, Ni Q, Sun W, Li L, Feng X. The links between gut microbiota and obesity and obesity related diseases. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022;147:112678.
  3. 3. Zhang X, Liu J, Ni Y, et al. Global Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178(8):800-813.
  4. 4. Demiray G, Yorulmaz F. Obesity Management with A Public Health Perspective. Value Health Sci. 2023; 13(1):147-155.
  5. 5. Tekin T, Çiçek B, Konyalıgil N. The Relatıonshıp Between Intestınal Mıcrobıota And Obesıty. J. Health Sci. 2018;27(1):95-99.
  6. 6. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). Stratejik Plan 2014–2018. Ankara: TÜİK Yayınları, Eylül 2014. Erişim adresi: https://www.tuik.gov.tr/Kurumsal/Stratejik_Plan. Access date 20 November, 2024.
  7. 7. TÜİK. Türkiye Sağlık Araştırması, (2022). Erişim Adresi: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turkiye-Saglik-Arastirmasi-2022-49747. Access date 20 November, 2024.
  8. 8. Çetinbaş S, Kemeriz F, Göker G, Biçer İ, Velioğlu YS. Human Microbiome: Nutritional and Health Effects. Akademik Gıda. 2017;15(4):409-415.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Microbiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

August 1, 2025

Publication Date

August 8, 2025

Submission Date

January 23, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 7, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

APA
Öztürk, C., Fidan, S., Bolacalı, M., Sevim, E., & Güneş, A. (2025). Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, 9(2), 243-250. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1625431
AMA
1.Öztürk C, Fidan S, Bolacalı M, Sevim E, Güneş A. Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children. Ahi Evran Med J. 2025;9(2):243-250. doi:10.46332/aemj.1625431
Chicago
Öztürk, Cihat, Serdar Fidan, Memiş Bolacalı, Elif Sevim, and Ali Güneş. 2025. “Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 9 (2): 243-50. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1625431.
EndNote
Öztürk C, Fidan S, Bolacalı M, Sevim E, Güneş A (August 1, 2025) Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 9 2 243–250.
IEEE
[1]C. Öztürk, S. Fidan, M. Bolacalı, E. Sevim, and A. Güneş, “Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children”, Ahi Evran Med J, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 243–250, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.46332/aemj.1625431.
ISNAD
Öztürk, Cihat - Fidan, Serdar - Bolacalı, Memiş - Sevim, Elif - Güneş, Ali. “Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 9/2 (August 1, 2025): 243-250. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1625431.
JAMA
1.Öztürk C, Fidan S, Bolacalı M, Sevim E, Güneş A. Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children. Ahi Evran Med J. 2025;9:243–250.
MLA
Öztürk, Cihat, et al. “Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 243-50, doi:10.46332/aemj.1625431.
Vancouver
1.Cihat Öztürk, Serdar Fidan, Memiş Bolacalı, Elif Sevim, Ali Güneş. Investigation of Changes in Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Obese Children. Ahi Evran Med J. 2025 Aug. 1;9(2):243-50. doi:10.46332/aemj.1625431

Ahi Evran Medical Journal  is indexed in ULAKBIM TR Index, Turkish Medline, DOAJ, Index Copernicus, EBSCO and Turkey Citation Index. Ahi Evran Medical Journal is periodical scientific publication. Can not be cited without reference. Responsibility of the articles belong to the authors.

    Creative Commons Lisansı

This journal is licensed under the Creative Commons Atıf-GayriTicari 4.0 Uluslararası Lisansı.