Pregestational overweight and obesity are associated with differences in gut microbiota composition and systemic inflammation in the third trimester

Abstract

The obesity epidemic is a global challenge, and the velocity of propagation is high in the population at reproductive age. Overweight and obesity during pregnancy have been associated with high birth weight and an increased risk of childhood obesity, reinforcing the risk of other non-communicable diseases. Obesity involves chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. New biomarkers for early detection of obesity risk are urgently required. The aim of this study was to identify the connection between pregestational BMI (pre-BMI) status and inflammatory biomarkers during the third trimester of pregnancy and their association with intestinal microbiota composition. Fifty-four pregnant women were classified according to pre-pregnancy BMI as normoweight, overweight, or obese. Weight gain, inflammatory biomarkers (hs_CRP, haptoglobin, and suPAR), and microbiota composition were assessed during the third trimester. A significant lower weight gain for obese mothers and a positive correlation between pre-BMI and inflammatory biomarkers were detected (Spearman’s correlation). Haptoglobin levels were significantly higher in overweight and obese mothers. Higher Firmicutes levels and a higher ratio Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes were observed in the overweight and obese subjects. High hs_CRP and haptoglobin levels were also correlated with decreased microbiota diversity (Shannon index), whereas haptoglobin and hs_CRP values were correlated with several microbiota components, such as Ruminococcus gnavus and Faecalibacterium, and with specific phyla in the normoweight and overweight mothers; no significant associations with microbiota were found for suPAR. In conclusion, haptoglobin and hs_CRP reflected pregestational BMI status and related microbiota components, but haptoglobin was a better biomarker for microbiota associated with overweight. suPAR was associated with low grade inflammation dependent on pre-pregnancy BMI, but it was not related to deviated microbiota profiles.

Metatranscriptomic analysis to define the Secrebiome, and 16S rRNA profiling of the gut microbiome in obesity and metabolic syndrome of Mexican children

“…Recently, a report in adults determined that the microbial gut community of obese people was characterized by higher Clostridiales whereas lean people tend to have higher Bacteroidales counts [42]. The microbiota of obese adults recently revealed a high abundance of Coprococcus, a genus of Clostridiales [43], as well as in pregestational obesity [44], which is in accordance with our data, suggesting that these bacteria are important determinants in children obesity with metabolic syndrome.…”

Prenatal and postnatal determinants in shaping offspring’s microbiome in the first 1000 days: study protocol and preliminary results at one month of life

“…Higher Firmicutes levels and a higher ratio Firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes were often observed in subjects affected by overweight or obesity [54]. Among Firmicutes, we found an over representation of Streptococcus in infants born to mothers whit a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m 2 , in contrast with the recent study of Kameron Y. Sugino et al [55].…”

“…Feeding type is another major factor triggering early microbial shaping and differences in the gut microbial composition between BF and FF infants are well documented [54]. Results from previous studies showed high levels of Bifidobacteria in BF infants, who also exhibit lower diversity than FF infants [56,57].…”

Maternal Obesity Programs Offspring Development and Resveratrol Potentially Reprograms the Effects of Maternal Obesity

“…Pregnant mothers' gut microbiota undergo dynamic compositional changes during gestation [18]. Inadequate nutrition during pregnancy has been related to altered maternal microbiota [19]. A human study showed that shifts in the gut microbiota during pregnancy are sensitive to the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, as well as to weight gain during pregnancy [20].…”