Table 3.
Unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted mean difference in short-chain fatty acid concentrations (μmol/g), from infant stool provided at 3 and 12 months of age, according the timing of complementary food introduction
| Butyric Acid± | Propionic Acid± | Acetic Acid | Total SCFAs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean difference (95% CI) | Mean difference (95% CI) | Mean difference (95% CI) | Mean difference (95% CI) | |||||
| Crude | Adjusted | Crude | Adjusted | Crude | Adjusted | Crude | Adjusted | |
| Infants at 3 months | ||||||||
| Complementary foods > 3 months (n = 47) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) |
| Complementary foods ≤3 months (n = 18) | 0.19 (−0.26, 0.64) | 0.11 (−0.31, 0.53) | 0.01 (− 0.39, 0.41) | 0.04 (− 0.36, 0.44) | 0.29 (−17.4, 18.0) | − 0.36 (−18.6, 17.9) | 3.88 (−20.2, 27.9) | 2.82 (−21.8, 27.4) |
| Infants at 12 months | ||||||||
| Complementary foods > 3 months (n = 36) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) | 0.0 (ref) |
| Complementary foods ≤3 months (n = 13) | 0.67*** (0.30, 1.04) | 0.65** (0.27, 1.04) | 0.35* (0.03, 0.68) | 0.31 (−0.03, 0.65) | 21.0* (0.65, 41.4) | 21.3 (−0.42, 43.0) | 40.5** (11.3, 69.8) | 38.8* (7.83, 69.7) |
±Natural log + 1 transformation used for butyric acid and propionic acid at 3 and 12 months
Multivariable-adjusted model includes adjustment for breastfeeding (ever vs. never), delivery mode, gestational age, and birth weight
Total SCFAs includes butyric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, heptanoic acid, and hexanoic acid. * = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, and *** = p < 0.001