Poster #23 - Maternal prenatal stress and child intestinal microbiota six years later

• In Event: 3-003 - Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Section - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Integrative Statement

Background: In an earlier study, maternal prenatal stress was associated with infants’ intestinal microbiota composition and colonization pattern in their first four months of life. Furthermore, these infants had more gastrointestinal and allergic symptoms. To date, it is unknown whether these early intestinal bacterial profiles persist over the years.

Objective: The goal of the present study is to investigate whether the associations found between maternal prenatal stress and infant microbiota and health symptoms persist until childhood. We hypothesize that the intestinal microbiota of children of mothers experiencing stress during pregnancy have lower abundances of potentially beneficial bacteria that support ongoing development during childhood and higher abundances of non-beneficial bacteria. Also, we hypothesize that these children will have more gastrointestinal symptoms.

Study Design: During the final weeks of pregnancy, general and pregnancy-specific prenatal stress and anxiety were measured with the use of questionnaires. Mothers also provided saliva samples for circadian cortisol. Child intestinal microbiota and gastrointestinal symptoms were examined around age six using stool samples (N=43).

Results: Results showed that although the overall diversity of the child microbiota was not related to prenatal stress, the diversity had stronger associations with prenatal stress than to other variables of known relevance for intestinal microbiota (duration of breastfeeding, lifetime child antibiotic use), and to postnatal maternal stress. The main bacterial Phylum associated with prenatal stress was Firmicutes, and within Firmicutes the clostridia-to-bacilli ratio was higher in children exposed to high levels of stress during late pregnancy. High Clostridia-to-Bacilli ratio indicates mature microbiota. Bacilli are predominantly observed in infants and are normally at a minimal abundance in adult fecal samples. Clostridia show the opposite trend, being dominant in adults but absent or at a very low abundance in infants. In contrast with our hypothesis, the number of gastrointestinal symptoms was lower in the high stress group. However, after adjusting for postnatal maternal stress, the effect became marginally significant.

Discussion: In conclusion, prenatal stress is associated with long-term patterns of child intestinal microbial development. The results showed that prenatal stress may be associated with faster maturation of the microbiota and altered abundance of important Firmicute taxa.

Authors

• Maartje Zijlmans, Radboud University
  Presenting Author

• Katri Korpela, University of Helsinki
  Non-Presenting Author

• Willem M. de Vos, Wageningen University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Roseriet Beijers, Radboud University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Carolina de Weerth, Radboud University
  Non-Presenting Author