Prenatal stress associated with infant gut microbes

Date:
June 23, 2020
Source:
University of Turku
Summary:
Mother's chronic prenatal psychological distress and elevated
hair cortisol concentrations are associated with gut microbiota
composition of the infant, according to a new publication. The
results help to better understand how prenatal stress can be
connected to infant growth and development.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Mother's chronic prenatal psychological distress and elevated hair
cortisol concentrations are associated with gut microbiota composition of
the infant, according to a new publication from the FinnBrain research
project of the University of Turku, Finland. The results help to better understand how prenatal stress can be connected to infant growth and development. The study has been published in the Psychoneuroendocrinology journal.


========================================================================== Prenatal stress can be associated with infant growth and
development. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are
not yet fully understood.

"We were able to show that maternal chronic psychological distress and
elevated hair cortisol concentrations during pregnancy are associated
with infant gut microbiota composition but not diversity," says Doctoral Candidate, Doctor Anna Aatsinki.

The study used hair cortisol analysis which enabled measuring the
concentration averages of stress hormone cortisol over several months. In addition, the symptoms of the mother were assessed three times during pregnancy. The infant gut microbiota was analysed early at the age of
2.5 months with next generation sequencing.

Previously, similar studies have focused on animals and two have been
smaller human studies making this data consisting of 399 mothers and
their infants the largest in the world so far. The received results
provide significant new information on the phenomenon. In addition,
this study was able to confirm previously made observations.

Studying the Role of Microbes as Mediators of Stress Both Proteobacteria
and Lactobacillus are common infant gut microbes.



==========================================================================
"We discovered, for instance, that mother's chronic prenatal psychological distress was linked to increased abundances of Proteobacteria genera
in infant microbiota. In addition, chronic psychological symptoms
were connected to decreased abundances of Akkermansia genera which is considered to promote health at least in adults," summarises Aatsinki.

According to Aatsinki, it was also interesting that low cortisol
concentrations were associated with increased abundances of Lactobacillus
in infant gut microbiota. Lactobacillus bacteria are considered to
promote health.

However, Proteobacteria also contain species that are able to cause inflammation in the body. Proteobacteria can also be associated with
the child's disease risk later in life. Therefore, researchers consider
it important to study how the observed changes are connected to later
child development.

"Our study does not explain the cause-effect relationship, or whether
prenatal psychological stress is linked to differences in microbial
metabolic products or e.g. in immune system function. In other words,
important questions still need to be answered," notes Aatsinki.

The study is part of the FinnBrain research project and its gut-brain
axis sub- project. The sub-project led by Docent, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Linnea Karlsson studies how prenatal stress affects infant microbiota development and how infant gut microbes affect later brain development.

The FinnBrain research project of the University of Turku studies the
combined influence of environmental and genetic factors on the development
of children.

Over 4,000 families participate in the research project and they are
followed from infancy long into adulthood.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Turku. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Anna-Katariina Aatsinki, Anniina Keskitalo, Ville Laitinen, Eveliina
Munukka, Henna-Maria Uusitupa, Leo Lahti, Susanna Kortesluoma,
Paula Mustonen, Ana Joa~o Rodrigues, Ba'rbara Coimbra, Pentti
Huovinen, Hasse Karlsson, Linnea Karlsson. Maternal prenatal
psychological distress and hair cortisol levels associate
with infant fecal microbiota composition at 2.5 months
of age. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2020; 119: 104754 DOI:
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104754 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200623145346.htm

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