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Maternal prenatal stress is associated with the infant intestinal microbiota

Maartje A C Zijlmans1, Katri Korpela2, J Marianne Riksen-Walraven1

  • 1Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Postbus 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|February 2, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Maternal prenatal stress impacts infant gut bacteria, increasing harmful microbes and decreasing beneficial ones. This dysbiosis is linked to infant gastrointestinal and allergic issues, suggesting a pathway for stress effects.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Maternal-fetal health

Background:

  • Maternal prenatal stress is linked to infant health outcomes, but underlying mechanisms are unclear.
  • The infant gut microbiota plays a crucial role in immune development and overall health.
  • Investigating the maternal stress-infant microbiota axis offers insights into developmental pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively examine the infant intestinal microbiota development.
  • To identify the role of the gut microbiota as a pathway linking maternal prenatal stress and infant health.
  • To explore associations between infant microbiota composition and gastrointestinal/allergic symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 56 healthy Dutch infants over 110 days postpartum.
  • Analysis of infant intestinal microbiota composition using a phylogenetic microarray.
  • Assessment of maternal prenatal stress via self-report and salivary cortisol levels.

Main Results:

  • Maternal prenatal stress (reported stress and/or elevated cortisol) was persistently associated with infant microbiota composition.
  • High maternal stress infants showed increased Proteobacteria (pathogens) and decreased beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria).
  • Aberrant microbiota patterns correlated with increased infant gastrointestinal and allergic symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal prenatal stress significantly alters the developing infant gut microbiota.
  • The infant gut microbiota may mediate the effects of prenatal stress on infant health.
  • Findings suggest potential for microbial interventions to improve offspring health in stressed pregnancies.

Keywords:
CortisolEarly developmentInfantIntestinal microbiotaMaternal prenatal stress

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