Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the feces of schoolchildren of two different socioeconomic groups: children from a favela and children from a private school.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the number of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies in the feces of schoolchildren from two different socioeconomic levels.


METHODS
We analyzed fecal samples of children aged 6 to 10 years without gastrointestinal symptoms or recent use of antimicrobials. The first group included 86 children living in a favela in the city of Osasco, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The second group included 36 children attending a private school in the same city. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess nutritional status according to the reference values of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Specific anaerobic culture media were used for isolation of colonies for 48 and 72 hours at 37 degrees C. The number of colonies was determined using the plate-counting method.


RESULTS
The mean lactobacillus (1.125 x 10(9) colony-forming units, CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (1.675 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts in the private school group were higher (p < 0.001) than those in the favela group: 0.250 x 10(9) and 0.350 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. In the favela group, children with BMI z score < -1.0 standard deviation (SD) (n = 28) showed lower mean (p < 0.05) lactobacillus (0.100 x 10(9) CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (0.095 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts than the children with BMI >or= -1.0 SD (n = 57): 0.350 x 10(9) and 0.420 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The microbiota of schoolchildren living in unfavorable environmental conditions shows lower numbers of fecal lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies, especially in children with lower BMI values.
Mello
Ricardo M P de
RM
Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Morais
Mauro B de
MB
Tahan
Soraia
S
Melli
Lígia C F
LC
Rodrigues
Mirian S do Carmo
MS
Mello
Carolina S
CS
Scaletsky
Isabel C A
IC
D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D017149:Private Sector; D012574:Schools; D012923:Social Class