Differential analysis of the bacterial community in colostrum samples from women with gestational diabetes mellitus and obesity

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and obesity affect the functioning of multiple maternal systems and influence colonization of the newborn gastrointestinal through the breastmilk microbiota (BMM). It is currently unclear how GDM and obesity affect the human BMM composition. Here, we applied 16S-rRNA high-throughput sequencing to human colostrum milk to characterize BMM taxonomic changes in a cohort of 43 individuals classified in six subgroups according to mothers patho-physiological conditions (healthy control (n = 18), GDM (n = 13), or obesity (n = 12)) and newborn gender. Using various diversity indicators, including Shannon/Faith phylogenetic index and UniFrac/robust Aitchison distances, we evidenced that BMM composition was influenced by the infant gender in the obesity subgroup. In addition, the GDM group presented higher microbial diversity compared to the control group. Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium 1, Anaerococcus and Prevotella were overrepresented in colostrum from women with either obesity or GDM, compared to control samples. Finally, Rhodobacteraceae was distinct for GDM and 5 families (Bdellovibrionaceae, Halomonadaceae, Shewanellaceae, Saccharimonadales and Vibrionaceae) were distinct for obesity subgroups with an absolute effect size greater than 1 and a q-value <= 0.05. This study represents the first effort to describe the impact of maternal GDM and obesity on BMM.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the composition of colostrum microbiota (BMM) in 43 mothers using 16S-rRNA high-throughput sequencing and found that GDM and obesity have an impact on BMM. The influence of obesity subgroup on BMM composition is affected by the gender of the newborn; the GDM group showed higher microbial diversity compared to the control group.