Abstract

Early childhood stunting is a significant global health issue with profound implications for children's physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. While factors like nutrition, environment, and genetics have been extensively studied, the role of gut microbiota diversity in the mechanisms underlying stunting remains not well understood. This multi-center longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the relationship between gut microbiota diversity and the incidence of stunting in early childhood. The analysis of stool samples revealed that stunted children exhibited lower gut microbiota diversity compared to their non-stunted counterparts. Longitudinal growth tracking further demonstrated that children with higher initial gut microbiota diversity experienced more favorable growth trajectories. The study also found that gut microbiota diversity remained an independent predictor of stunting, even after accounting for socioeconomic, dietary, and environmental factors. These findings suggest that strategies to enhance gut microbiota diversity, such as probiotics or prebiotics, could be integrated into existing nutritional programs to combat stunting. The study's implications highlight the need for holistic approaches that consider the complex interplay between gut health and early childhood development.