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Fetal programming of overweight through the microbiome: boys are disproportionately affected

A L Kozyrskyj1, R Kalu1, P T Koleva1

  • 11Department of Pediatrics,University of Alberta,Edmonton,AB,Canada.

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
|June 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Maternal overweight during pregnancy impacts infant gut microbes, potentially increasing childhood obesity risk. Specific bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bacteroides, along with immune factors, are key indicators.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Pediatric health
  • Public health

Background:

  • Maternal and childhood obesity are significant global health concerns.
  • Advances in gene sequencing illuminate the effects of birth interventions and postnatal exposures on infant gut microbiota and immunity.
  • The impact of maternal pregnancy overweight on infant gut microbes and offspring overweight risk remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize existing literature on maternal overweight, infant gut microbiota, and offspring overweight risk.
  • To identify key microbial and immunological factors associated with overweight in infants and children.
  • To generate hypotheses regarding the mechanisms linking maternal overweight to infant gut dysbiosis and subsequent overweight risk.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive survey of human studies involving children, infants, and pregnant women.
  • Analysis of literature to identify patterns in gut microbiota composition and immune markers.
  • Literature synthesis to propose mechanisms of vertical microbial transfer and its consequences.

Main Results:

  • Higher Lactobacillus and lower Bacteroides spp. colonization within 3 months of birth predicted infant and child overweight risk.
  • The abundance of bifidobacteria and staphylococci, along with infant fecal immunoglobulin A levels, were also associated with overweight.
  • Pregnancy overweight is hypothesized to alter infant gut microbiota composition via vertical transfer of microbes or metabolites.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal pregnancy overweight may influence infant gut microbiota structure, contributing to overweight risk in offspring.
  • Specific microbial taxa (Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Bifidobacteria, Staphylococci) and immune factors (IgA) are implicated.
  • Emerging evidence suggests sex, ethnic, and geographic variations in these associations warrant further investigation.

Keywords:
gutinfantmicrobiotaoverweightpregnancy

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