Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Maternal Microbiome Alterations

Abstract

The maternal microbiome has been identified as a critical driver for a variety of important mother and child health outcomes. Studies have demonstrated changes in maternal microbiome during pregnancy. These changes may have an impact on the maternal metabolic profile, play a role in pregnancy problems, and contribute to the metabolic and immunological health of the offspring. Gestational diabetes mellitus is a major challenge for prenatal healthcare providers, not only because of the negative short and long-term effects on the mother’s and baby’s health, but also because its etiology has been poorly understood till now. The developing link between maternal microbiome and metabolic disorders in pregnancy can be offered as a new target in their prevention and treatment, as well as in reducing their negative maternal and child outcomes; however, there has been very little research done on this. Diabetes’ impact on site-specific maternal microbiome alterations during pregnancy is similarly poorly understood. Given the rising prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy and the potential importance of the maternal microbiome, more research is needed to understand and rigorously examine how metabolic disorders in pregnancy affect the pregnancy-associated microbiota, as well as whether these microbial alterations affect the health of the mother and her offspring.