Mother's gut bacteria during pregnancy promote healthy brain development in the fetus

University of CambridgeAug 22 2024

A study in mice has discovered that the presence of Bifidobacterium breve bacteria in the mother's gut during pregnancy promotes healthy brain development in the fetus.

The fetal brain development of mice whose mothers had no bacteria in their gut and mice whose mothers received oral Bifidobacterium breve during pregnancy but had no other bacteria in their gut were compared by researchers.

When women were administered Bifidobacterium breve, the fetuses showed an increase in nutrient transfer to the brain. Beneficial alterations were also observed in other cell processes related to growth.

One of the “good bacteria,” Bifidobacterium breve, is found naturally in human stomachs and can be supplemented with probiotic beverages and tablets.

Pregnant women's gut microbiomes can be altered by obesity or long-term stress, which frequently results in problems in the growth of the fetus. Up to 10% of newborns born to first-time mothers have low birth weights or restricted fetal growth. An increased risk of disorders such as cerebral palsy in neonates and anxiety, sadness, autism, and schizophrenia in later life arises from improper growth in the womb.

These findings imply that consuming Bifidobacterium breve supplements during pregnancy may enhance fetal growth, particularly fetal brain metabolism, and hence contribute to the production of healthy offspring.

The research was published in the journal Molecular Metabolism.

Our study suggests that by providing ‘good bacteria’ to the mother we could improve the growth and development of her baby while she is pregnant. This means future treatments for fetal growth restriction could potentially focus on altering the gut microbiome through probiotics, rather than offering pharmaceutical treatments - with the risk of side effects - to pregnant women.”

Dr. Jorge Lopez-Tello, Study First Author, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge

“The design of therapies for fetal growth restriction is focused on improving blood flow pathways in the mother, but our results suggest we have been thinking about this the wrong way - perhaps we should be more focused on improving maternal gut health,” said Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Trophoblast Research and study Senior Author, who is also a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge.

We know that good gut health - determined by the types of microbes in the gut - helps the body to absorb nutrients and protect against infections and diseases.”

Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, Professor and Study Senior Author, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge

Bifidobacterium breve was studied in mice rather than people. The researchers were able to accurately regulate the mouse's genetic makeup, other microbes, and environment, which made it possible to evaluate the effects of the bacteria. However, they claim that the impacts they saw are probably comparable in people.

They now intend to do additional research to track the brain development of the progeny following delivery and to comprehend the interactions between Bifidobacterium breve and other gut bacteria that are naturally present.

The placenta's structure and function are improved in pregnant mice treated with Bifidobacterium breve, according to earlier research by the same researchers. Additionally, this promotes fetal growth and allows the growing fetus to receive a better supply of glucose and other nutrients.

“Although further research is needed to understand how these effects translate to humans, this exciting discovery may pave the way for future clinical studies that explore the critical role of the maternal microbiome in supporting healthy brain development before birth,” said Professor Lindsay Hall at the University of Birmingham, who was also involved in the research.

Although it is commonly known that a pregnant woman's health plays a crucial role in the development of her unborn child, little research has been done on the impact of her gut flora on the infant's growth.