Gut bacteria and metabolites in children with egg white sensitization
What it found
Toddlers with egg white sensitization had less varied gut bacteria and different bacterial groups than healthy children.
Their stool also contained higher levels of several organic compounds.
What they found
Studies in people
Bacteria groups
Children with egg white sensitization had relatively high levels of Firmicutes and relatively low levels of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level.
Bacteria variety
Children with egg white sensitization had significantly reduced overall gut bacteria diversity and richness compared with healthy children.
Bacteria families
At the family level, the numbers of Clostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Pasteurellaceae and Ruminococcaceae were significantly increased in children with egg white sensitization.
Stool compounds
Egg white sensitivity was linked to higher levels of orotic acid, nicotinate, methyl succinate, urocanic acid, xanthine, some amino acids and some short-chain fatty acids in stool.
What the authors conclude
- They say that some specific families and genera are enriched in the gut bacteria and that increases in the mean concentrations of organic compounds in the stool are associated with egg white sensitization in children.
- They suggest these findings may provide evidence of potential strategies to control the development of egg white sensitization or other atopies by modifying the gut bacteria.
How it was done
The authors thought food sensitization in children might be linked to specific gut bacteria.
They compared toddlers with egg white sensitization and healthy children of similar age. They collected stool, measured a blood antibody, and analysed gut bacteria and stool compounds.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This kind of study compares children at one point in time. It can show a link, not that one thing causes the other.
- It cannot show whether changing gut bacteria would prevent or treat egg white sensitization.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Authors work at
- Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taiwan; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
The paper
- Title
- Gut Microbiota and Related Metabolites in Children With Egg White Sensitization
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Chen CC, Yeh YM, Chen KJ, et al (2025). Gut Microbiota and Related Metabolites in Children With Egg White Sensitization. The Pediatric infectious disease journal. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000004628PubMed 39637305DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error