Probiotics and pregnancy.
Complications of pregnancy are associated with adverse outcomes for mother and baby in the short and long term. The gut microbiome has been identified as a key factor for maintaining health outside of pregnancy and could contribute to pregnancy complications. In addition, the vaginal and the recently revealed placental microbiome are altered in pregnancy and may play a role in pregnancy complications. Probiotic supplementation could help to regulate the unbalanced microflora composition observed in obesity and diabetes. Here, the impact of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and infancy is reviewed. There are indications for a protective role in preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, vaginal infections, maternal and infant weight gain and allergic diseases. Large, well-designed randomised controlled clinical trials along with metagenomic analysis are needed to establish the role of probiotics in adverse pregnancy and infancy outcomes.
School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia, luisa.gomezarango@uq.net.au.
Luisa F
LF
Gomez Arango
Helen L
HL
Barrett
Leonie K
LK
Callaway
Marloes Dekker
MD
Nitert
D000328:Adult; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain