The associations between gut microbiota and fecal metabolites with intelligence quotient in preschoolers

Abstract Background The awareness of the association between the gut microbiota and human intelligence levels is increasing, but the findings are inconsistent. Furthermore, few research have explored the potential role of gut microbial metabolites in this association. This study aimed to investigate the associations of the gut microbiota and fecal metabolome with intelligence quotient (IQ) in preschoolers. Methods The 16 S rRNA sequencing and widely targeted metabolomics were applied to analyze the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites of 150 children aged 3–6 years. The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) was used to assess the cognitive competence. Results The observed species index, gut microbiome health index, and microbial dysbiosis index presented significant differences between children with full-scale IQ (FSIQ) below the borderline (G1) and those with average or above-average (all P