Maternal diet during pregnancy and intestinal markers are associated with early gut microbiota

Background Diet has an important role in host-microbiome interplay, which may result in intestinal permeability changes and physiopathological effects at a systemic level. Despite the importance of maternal microbiota as the main contributor to the initial microbial seeding, little is known about the effects of maternal diet during pregnancy on maternal-neonatal microbiota. Objectives This study aimed at ascertaining the possible associations between maternal dietary intake during pregnancy and neonatal microbiota at birth and to evaluate the relationship with maternal intestinal markers. Methods In a nested cross-sectional study in the longitudinal MAMI cohort, maternal-neonatal microbiota profiling at birth (n = 73) was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Maternal intestinal markers as zonulin, intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity and faecal calprotectin were measured in faeces. Furthermore, maternal-neonatal clinical and anthropometric data, as well as maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy obtained by FFQ questionnaires, were collected. Results Maternal diet is associated with both maternal and neonatal microbiota at the time of birth, in a delivery mode-dependent manner. The existing link between maternal diet, intestinal makers and neonatal gut microbiota would be mainly influenced by the intake of saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Members of Firmicutes in the neonatal microbiota were positively associated with maternal fat intake, especially SFA and MUFA, and negatively correlated to fibre, proteins from vegetable sources and vitamins. Conclusions Maternal diet during pregnancy, mainly fat intake (SFA and MUFA), was related to intestinal markers, thus likely shifting the microbial transmission to the neonate and priming the neonatal microbial profile with potential health outcomes.

Automated summary

Maternal diet during pregnancy, particularly fat intake (SFA and MUFA), was found to be associated with intestinal markers and neonatal gut microbiota at birth. The study revealed a positive correlation between maternal fat intake and Firmicutes in the neonatal microbiota, while a negative correlation was observed with fiber, proteins from vegetable sources, and vitamins. This suggests that maternal diet may influence the transmission of microbial profile to the neonate and potentially impact health outcomes.