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Maternal Prebiotic Supplementation Modifies Associations Between Intrapartum Antibiotics and Infant Allergy

Summer V M Walker1,2, Thomas R Sullivan3,4, Rachelle A Pretorius1,5,6

  • 1The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.

Allergy
|July 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal prebiotic supplementation during pregnancy may protect infants from allergies linked to intrapartum antibiotics. This intervention reduced risks of sensitization, food allergy, and eczema in infants exposed to antibiotics around birth.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Allergy and immunology
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • Antibiotics can disrupt infant gut microbiota and increase allergy risk.
  • Prebiotics promote beneficial gut bacteria, potentially counteracting antibiotic effects.
  • Understanding the interplay between maternal antibiotic exposure, prebiotics, and infant allergies is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if maternal antibiotic use (pre-, during, or post-birth) impacts infant allergy risk.
  • To determine if maternal prebiotic supplementation modifies this risk.
  • To assess allergy outcomes like sensitization, food allergy, and eczema by age one.

Main Methods:

  • Mothers received prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides) or placebo from mid-gestation to 6 months postpartum.
  • Maternal and infant antibiotic use was tracked monthly.
  • Infant allergic diseases were assessed at one year of age in a cohort with a family history of allergy.

Main Results:

  • Intrapartum antibiotic exposure in mothers not taking prebiotics increased infant risks of allergen sensitization, IgE-mediated food allergy, and atopic eczema.
  • Maternal prebiotic supplementation negated these increased risks associated with intrapartum antibiotics.
  • Antibiotic use during other intervention periods showed no significant association with infant allergy outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal prebiotic intake appears to mitigate infant allergy risks associated with intrapartum antibiotic exposure.
  • Prebiotic interventions during the intrapartum period may be a promising strategy for allergy prevention.
  • Further research in allergy prevention trials should focus on optimizing maternal prebiotic supplementation.
Abstract

Keywords:
allergy preventionantibioticsatopic eczemafood allergyprebiotics

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