For the purposes of this study, the stress and anxiety levels of pregnant women were measured by means of questionnaires and testing the levels of the hormone cortisol in saliva. In addition, faeces samples from 56 babies were tested from 7 days until 4 months after birth. A correlation was found between the mothers who reported high stress levels and presented high cortisol levels and the variety of microbiota in the babies’ guts, even when the analyses took breastfeeding and postnatal stress into account.
Different mix of bacteria
Mothers who reported high stress levels and
presented high cortisol readings had babies with more Proteobacteria
and fewer lactic acid bacteria and Actinobacteria in their microbiota.
This represents a poor mix of microbiota, which was also reflected in
the relationship between the presence of these microbiota and a higher
incidence of intestinal problems and allergic reactions among the babies
in this research group.
Mechanism
‘We think that our results point towards a
possible mechanism for health problems in children of mothers who
experience stress during pregnancy. Giving other bacteria would probably
benefit these children’s development,’ says Carolina de Weerth,
professor of developmental psychology in the Behavioural Science
Institute of Radboud University Nijmegen, and corresponding author of
the article that will be published in Psychoneuroendocrinology.The researchers are keen to stress that the clear correlation they discovered should not be confused with a causal link.
More information:
Carolina de Weerth
+31-24-3612637 (secr. 3615550)
C.deWeerth@psych.ru.nl
www.ru.nl/dpblab
Maternal Prenatal Stress is Associated with the Infant Intestinal Microbiota
Psychoneuroendocrinology
doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.01.006