Title : The human gut microbiome in pregnancy and early life: Insights from the gusto and s-presto multi-ethnic Asian cohorts
Abstract:
Objective: Pregnancy and infant development are two critical time windows, as the gut microbiome's initial establishment and maturation during these stages lay the foundation for long-term human health and are key in preventing non-communicable diseases. We aim to understand: 1) how women’s microbiome alter from preconception to post-delivery, and its link with women’s metabolic health; 2) the colonization of gut microbiome in early life and how various intrinsic and early-life factors influence their acquisition; 3) how modern world practices delay or endanger the colonization of certain beneficial microbes in the human gut.
Methods: Gut microbiome was analyzed longitudinally at preconception, 1st, 3rd trimester and 6 weeks post-delivery in the S-PRESTO cohort (n = 1304). Infant or child gut microbiome was analyzed at Day 3, week 3, Month 3, 6, 12 and 24. Demographic, detailed body composition, and other metabolic measurements were analyzed in both cohorts.
Results: The gut microbiome were dynamically altered from perception to postpartum, with alterations during pregnancy were subtle, while those during the transition from preconception to pregnancy and pregnancy to postpartum were more pronounced. Ethnicity and BMI had longitudinal influences on the mother’s gut microbiome. The inter-individual variation in the gut microbiome at preconception was significantly associated with BMI, HbA1c, age, ethnicity, education, and parity, while delivery mode and antibiotics usage influenced the postnatal maternal gut microbiome. Streptococcus anginosus and S. salivarius significantly increased from preconception to pregnancy but decreased post-delivery after accounting the effects of the maternal phenotypic variables. S. salivarius positively correlated with visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes post-delivery. Differential microbes were identified for the early prediction of gestational diabetes (GDM). Ethnicity, mode of delivery, breastfeeding status, Fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) genotype, and repeated antibiotics exposure were the key factors affecting the early-life gut microbiome after mutual adjustment. Metagenomics analysis identified phylogenetically related Bifidobacteria species to have opposite abundance trends in the gut of children with different FUT2 genotypes. Generational immigration delayed the colonization of Bifidobacterium in early life, and 95.6% of the infants surveyed in this study had undetectable B. infantis.
Conclusions: Our findings underscore the critical importance of the gut microbiome's development from preconception to early life as foundational to human health. By elucidating the dynamics of microbiome changes during these pivotal stages and the adverse effects of modern practices on beneficial microbial colonization, our research highlights the potential for targeted interventions in these windows to forge a healthier start for future generations. This work lays the groundwork for innovative public health strategies and underscores the urgent need for further research to explore the full potential of microbiome-focused interventions in disease prevention and health promotion.
Audience Take Away:
- How women’s microbiome alter from preconception to post-delivery, and its link with women’s metabolic health.
- The colonization of gut microbiome in early life and how various intrinsic and early-life factors influence their acquisition.
- How modern world practices delay or endanger the colonization of certain beneficial microbes in the human gut.
