ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions
Pregnancy induces notable alterations in the gut, vaginal, and oral microbiota driven by hormonal, immune, metabolic, dietary, and environmental factors. During pregnancy, the gut microbiota is characterized by increased proportions of the genus Bifidobacterium and the phyla Pseudomonadota (formerly...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Gut Microbes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2501186 |
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| author | Eduard Flores Ventura Jonathan A. Lane Sondra Turjeman Nikoletta Vidra Gisela Adrienne Weiss Gabriele Gross Ching-Yu Chang Omry Koren |
| author_facet | Eduard Flores Ventura Jonathan A. Lane Sondra Turjeman Nikoletta Vidra Gisela Adrienne Weiss Gabriele Gross Ching-Yu Chang Omry Koren |
| author_sort | Eduard Flores Ventura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pregnancy induces notable alterations in the gut, vaginal, and oral microbiota driven by hormonal, immune, metabolic, dietary, and environmental factors. During pregnancy, the gut microbiota is characterized by increased proportions of the genus Bifidobacterium and the phyla Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria) and Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteria). These changes occur alongside reduced alpha diversity and greater beta diversity, changes that influence maternal metabolism and fetal development. Shifts in gut and oral microbiota have been associated with complications such as preterm birth (PTB), pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes (GDM), though patterns are sometimes inconsistent. The vaginal microbiota remains Lactobacillus-dominant during pregnancy, with reduced diversity leading to reduced risk of pathogenic infection and increased diversity has been linked with a higher risk of PTB. Hormonal changes also affect the oral microbiota, potentially increasing pathogenic species and contributing to adverse outcomes like PTB. Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy has significant potential to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, clinical studies are still limited. Probiotics may be effective in alleviating maternal constipation and lead to lower PTB risk, particularly by modulating the vaginal microbiota, but they have limited impact on GDM. In the context of maternal mental health, some studies suggest benefits of probiotics in reducing anxiety, but effects on depression are inconclusive. This perspective examines how pregnancy-related microbial shifts, both natural and probiotic-induced, affect maternal and fetal health and highlights potential opportunities for the innovative use of probiotics during the gestation period. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1dc97a3dfbe34d1682d4e6c0ccfda8fe |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1949-0976 1949-0984 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gut Microbes |
| spelling | doaj-art-1dc97a3dfbe34d1682d4e6c0ccfda8fe2025-08-20T03:13:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2501186ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventionsEduard Flores Ventura0Jonathan A. Lane1Sondra Turjeman2Nikoletta Vidra3Gisela Adrienne Weiss4Gabriele Gross5Ching-Yu Chang6Omry Koren7Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology – Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Valencia, SpainHealth and Happiness (H & H) Group, H & H Research, National Food Innovation Hub, Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co., Cork, IrelandAzrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, IsraelScience Department, Yakult Europe, Almere, The NetherlandsDepartment Innovation, Yili Innovation Center Europe, Wageningen, The NetherlandsMead Johnson Nutrition Institute/Reckitt, R & D, Nutrition Science Platforms, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsInternational Life Science Institute, International Life Science Institute, European Branch, Brussels, BelgiumAzrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, IsraelPregnancy induces notable alterations in the gut, vaginal, and oral microbiota driven by hormonal, immune, metabolic, dietary, and environmental factors. During pregnancy, the gut microbiota is characterized by increased proportions of the genus Bifidobacterium and the phyla Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria) and Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteria). These changes occur alongside reduced alpha diversity and greater beta diversity, changes that influence maternal metabolism and fetal development. Shifts in gut and oral microbiota have been associated with complications such as preterm birth (PTB), pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes (GDM), though patterns are sometimes inconsistent. The vaginal microbiota remains Lactobacillus-dominant during pregnancy, with reduced diversity leading to reduced risk of pathogenic infection and increased diversity has been linked with a higher risk of PTB. Hormonal changes also affect the oral microbiota, potentially increasing pathogenic species and contributing to adverse outcomes like PTB. Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy has significant potential to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, clinical studies are still limited. Probiotics may be effective in alleviating maternal constipation and lead to lower PTB risk, particularly by modulating the vaginal microbiota, but they have limited impact on GDM. In the context of maternal mental health, some studies suggest benefits of probiotics in reducing anxiety, but effects on depression are inconclusive. This perspective examines how pregnancy-related microbial shifts, both natural and probiotic-induced, affect maternal and fetal health and highlights potential opportunities for the innovative use of probiotics during the gestation period.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2501186Maternal healthprobioticspregnancygut microbiotaoral microbiotavaginal microbiota |
| spellingShingle | Eduard Flores Ventura Jonathan A. Lane Sondra Turjeman Nikoletta Vidra Gisela Adrienne Weiss Gabriele Gross Ching-Yu Chang Omry Koren ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions Gut Microbes Maternal health probiotics pregnancy gut microbiota oral microbiota vaginal microbiota |
| title | ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions |
| title_full | ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions |
| title_fullStr | ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions |
| title_short | ILSI Europe perspective review: site-specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes: opportunities for probiotic interventions |
| title_sort | ilsi europe perspective review site specific microbiota changes during pregnancy associated with biological consequences and clinical outcomes opportunities for probiotic interventions |
| topic | Maternal health probiotics pregnancy gut microbiota oral microbiota vaginal microbiota |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2501186 |
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