Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is known to be associated with dysbiosis of offspring gut microbiota, but the mechanism remains unclear. The present prospective study explored the role of human milk fatty acid composition in this association. Mothers with GDM and normal controls were recruited a...

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Main Authors: Kelei Li, Jin Jin, Zhizuo Liu, Chuanjing Chen, Ludi Huang, Yongye Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2455789
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author Kelei Li
Jin Jin
Zhizuo Liu
Chuanjing Chen
Ludi Huang
Yongye Sun
author_facet Kelei Li
Jin Jin
Zhizuo Liu
Chuanjing Chen
Ludi Huang
Yongye Sun
author_sort Kelei Li
collection DOAJ
description Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is known to be associated with dysbiosis of offspring gut microbiota, but the mechanism remains unclear. The present prospective study explored the role of human milk fatty acid composition in this association. Mothers with GDM and normal controls were recruited at 24–28 gestational weeks. Follow-up was conducted at 1–3 days postpartum and 1 month postpartum to collect human milk and infant feces. A total of 80 mother-infant pairs (40 in the GDM group and 40 in the normal group) were included in the study. The mothers received guidance on diet and exercise but not drug therapy. All infants were exclusively breastfed. We observed significant differences in 8 phyla and 13 genera in the infant between GDM and normal groups at 1–3 days postpartum or 1 month postpartum. Among these bacteria, significant time × group interaction was observed for 7 phyla (such as Acidobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota, and Myxococcota) and 9 genera (such as Sphingomonas, Allorhizobium Neorhizobium Pararhizobium Rhizobium, and TM7a), after adjusting for confounding factors. Changes in these differential infant bacteria were negatively correlated with changes in C18:3n-3 and total n-3 PUFA levels of breast milk. The increases in C18:3n-3 and total n-3 PUFA levels in human milk over time were much greater in the normal group compared to the GDM group. Our findings indicate that altered human milk fatty acid composition is one important reason for GDM-related dysbiosis of offspring gut microbiota.
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spelling doaj-art-382f1a8f9c1a402b8125c7951a5111b82025-01-26T16:27:36ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2455789Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort studyKelei Li0Jin Jin1Zhizuo Liu2Chuanjing Chen3Ludi Huang4Yongye Sun5School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is known to be associated with dysbiosis of offspring gut microbiota, but the mechanism remains unclear. The present prospective study explored the role of human milk fatty acid composition in this association. Mothers with GDM and normal controls were recruited at 24–28 gestational weeks. Follow-up was conducted at 1–3 days postpartum and 1 month postpartum to collect human milk and infant feces. A total of 80 mother-infant pairs (40 in the GDM group and 40 in the normal group) were included in the study. The mothers received guidance on diet and exercise but not drug therapy. All infants were exclusively breastfed. We observed significant differences in 8 phyla and 13 genera in the infant between GDM and normal groups at 1–3 days postpartum or 1 month postpartum. Among these bacteria, significant time × group interaction was observed for 7 phyla (such as Acidobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota, and Myxococcota) and 9 genera (such as Sphingomonas, Allorhizobium Neorhizobium Pararhizobium Rhizobium, and TM7a), after adjusting for confounding factors. Changes in these differential infant bacteria were negatively correlated with changes in C18:3n-3 and total n-3 PUFA levels of breast milk. The increases in C18:3n-3 and total n-3 PUFA levels in human milk over time were much greater in the normal group compared to the GDM group. Our findings indicate that altered human milk fatty acid composition is one important reason for GDM-related dysbiosis of offspring gut microbiota.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2455789Gut microbiotahuman milkgestational diabetes mellitusinfantlactation
spellingShingle Kelei Li
Jin Jin
Zhizuo Liu
Chuanjing Chen
Ludi Huang
Yongye Sun
Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
Gut Microbes
Gut microbiota
human milk
gestational diabetes mellitus
infant
lactation
title Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
title_full Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
title_fullStr Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
title_short Dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
title_sort dysbiosis of infant gut microbiota is related to the altered fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus a prospective cohort study
topic Gut microbiota
human milk
gestational diabetes mellitus
infant
lactation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2455789
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