Table 2

Statistical significance for predictors of early life microbiota ß-diversity by time point

Time pointDay 7Day 14Day 30Day 60Day 90
CovariatesUniMultiUniMultiUniMultiUniMultiUniMulti
Maternal IBD status 0.009 0.018 0.028 0.036 0.004 0.007 0.004 0.014 0.005 0.008
Delivery type 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.010 0.008 0.0560.1200.050 0.029
Feeding 0.045 0.070 0.002 0.002 0.028 0.0640.1100.400 0.001 0.090
Antibiotic exposure0.9000.9000.0580.0580.3500.240 0.036 0.780 0.010 0.026
Sex0.1000.1100.2130.1370.3000.5000.7001.0000.0180.084
Preterm birth0.6900.560 0.015 0.0980.5000.1600.2800.410 0.003 0.001

  • ß-diversity was assessed using unweighted UniFrac distances from multifactorial PERMANOVA; number of permutations=999. Maternal IBD status is defined as case (IBD) or control. Delivery type is defined as vaginal delivery or caesarean section. Feeding type is defined as formula-exclusive feeding, exclusive breast feeding or mixed feeding (exposure to any formula after hospital discharge). Antibiotic exposure refers to exposure after birth only. Preterm birth was defined as birth occurring before 37 weeks of gestational age. Uni, univariate regression analysis, Multi, multivariate analysis adjusted for all listed covariates; PERMANOVA, permutational analysis of variance.