Why Microbiome Science is the Next Frontier in Ending Global Childhood Malnutrition

At a groundbreaking UN Science Summit session in September, global experts in microbiome science, maternal and pediatric health, and manufacturing gathered to discuss an innovative approach to combating childhood malnutrition: deploying the healing power of the gut microbiome. With approximately 150 million children suffering from chronic undernutrition worldwide, the stakes couldn’t be higher. 

The human gut microbiome—trillions of bacteria living in our digestive tract—is crucial in nutrient absorption and disease prevention. Julie Barrett O’Brien, CEO of OpenBiome, described how the success of fecal microbiota transplants from healthy people to those with C. Difficile infections “proved that microbes could treat incurable illness and laid the foundation for a new field of medicine and biotech innovation.” Recent research suggests that disruptions in the gut microbiome might be a key factor in malnutrition’s devastating effects, including stunted growth and developmental issues; thus, microbiome therapeutics have unexplored potential to address malnutrition. 

Therapeutic Nutrition Has Helped But Is Not a Magic Bullet 

Dr. Jeffrey Gordon from Washington University in St. Louis, widely regarded as the “father of microbiome science,” highlighted a critical challenge: traditional food supplementation, while reducing mortality, hasn’t fully addressed long-term consequences of malnutrition, like stunting and wasting. The reason might lie in our gut bacteria. As Gordon explained, “We can look at ourselves as a splendid compilation of microbial and human cellular and genetic parts,” suggesting that manipulating these bacterial communities could lead to new therapeutic approaches. 

Timing Is Key When It Comes to Interventions 

The timing of intervention appears crucial. Early postnatal development represents an important window for establishing a healthy gut microbiome. Initial trials using prebiotic-enhanced foods have shown promising results in improving children’s microbiome health and overall physiology. However, experts emphasize the need for more research to better understand how diet affects microbiome composition and human health. 

Maternal health emerged as a pivotal factor. Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed of icdd,r in Bangladesh noted that roughly 20% of childhood stunting cases can be traced to malnutrition in the first three months of life, highlighting the importance of maternal nutrition. Vanessa Ridaura of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation added that pregnant women in the Global South face higher exposure to food-borne pathogens, potentially compromising their children’s immune system development. Billo Tall of the Pasteur Institute of Dakar also stressed the importance of maternal nutritional status and gut microbiome health for fetal development, birth and infant health.  

A Complex Problem Requires a Coordinated Response 

WHO representative Nigel Rollins presented sobering statistics: 45 million children suffer from wasting, with exceptionally high rates in Asia and Africa. Despite two decades of effort and the availability of therapeutic foods, progress in reducing these numbers has been modest. 

The path forward requires a multifaceted approach. Hilina Belete, General Manager of Hilina Enriched Foods, Ethiopia, described the technical capacity-building needed to manufacture and distribute nutritional interventions, drawing on her experience manufacturing the Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) “Plumpy Nut” for children with severe acute malnutrition. She emphasized that for feasible, affordable scale-up, the manufacturing process must rely on locally available, quality ingredients.  

 Strengthening research capacity in affected regions, building public-private partnerships, and establishing global monitoring sites to track microbial ecology changes are all necessary to meaningfully address the problem.  

Transformative Solutions Are on the Horizon 

Perhaps most encouragingly, some solutions might be closer than we think. Ridaura noted that implementing infant probiotics by 2028 could save 400,000 infant lives by 2030 and over a million by 2040. As Dr. Gordon concluded, the microbiome’s adaptability and functional diversity could revolutionize human health, offering new hope in the fight against global malnutrition. 

This gathering marked a pivotal moment in combining cutting-edge science with practical implementation strategies. As research continues and new therapeutic approaches emerge, the global health community stands poised to write a new chapter in the fight against childhood malnutrition.