Juncker Hannah G, Jakobsen Rasmus R, Naninck Eva F G, Davids Mark, Herrema Hilde, van Goudoever Johannes B, de Rooij Susanne R, Korosi Aniko
Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Emma Children's Hospital, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Food Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-1958 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brain Behav Immun. 2025 Feb;124:74-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.11.020. Epub 2024 Nov 22.
Maternal stress is associated with negative early-life development and (mental)health outcomes. There is recent evidence that maternal stress in the postpartum period impacts the nutrient composition of human milk (HM). However, it is currently not known whether maternal stress is associated with changes in the HM microbiome during the critical early postpartum period.
In this prospective observational cohort study, lactating women were recruited into a high-stress (HS, n = 23) and control (CTL, n = 69) group. The HS group included mothers with infants hospitalized for at least two days. Maternal stress was assessed using validated questionnaires and cortisol concentrations in hair, saliva and HM. HM was collected at days 10 and 24 and its microbiome was analyzed using 16 s rRNA sequencing. HM bacterial composition was compared between study groups and their correlation with maternal stress levels, maternal characteristics and infant outcomes was determined.
HM microbiome β-diversity differed significantly between study groups, with HS mothers displaying decreased abundance of Streptococcus, Gemella, and Veillonella, and increased levels of Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Acinetobacter compared to the control group. While the strongest correlation of β-diversity was with stress, HM microbiome β-diversity also correlated significantly with maternal education level and infant sex. No correlation between HM microbiome composition and HM cortisol concentrations was found.
This study demonstrates stress-associated alterations in the early HM microbiome that could potentially contribute to early gut colonization and subsequent (mental)health outcomes. Future research is needed to elucidate the physiological significance of these changes for infant development and health.
母亲压力与早期不良的生命发育及（心理）健康结果相关。最近有证据表明，产后母亲压力会影响母乳（HM）的营养成分。然而，目前尚不清楚在产后关键早期，母亲压力是否与母乳微生物群的变化有关。
在这项前瞻性观察队列研究中，将哺乳期妇女分为高压力组（HS，n = 23）和对照组（CTL，n = 69）。HS组包括婴儿住院至少两天的母亲。使用经过验证的问卷以及头发、唾液和母乳中的皮质醇浓度来评估母亲压力。在第10天和第24天收集母乳，并使用16s rRNA测序分析其微生物群。比较研究组之间的母乳细菌组成，并确定其与母亲压力水平、母亲特征和婴儿结局的相关性。
研究组之间母乳微生物群的β多样性存在显著差异，与对照组相比，HS组母亲的链球菌、孪生球菌和韦荣球菌丰度降低，葡萄球菌、棒状杆菌和不动杆菌水平升高。虽然β多样性与压力的相关性最强，但母乳微生物群的β多样性也与母亲教育水平和婴儿性别显著相关。未发现母乳微生物群组成与母乳皮质醇浓度之间存在相关性。
本研究表明，早期母乳微生物群存在与压力相关的改变，这可能潜在地影响早期肠道定植及随后的（心理）健康结果。需要进一步的研究来阐明这些变化对婴儿发育和健康的生理意义。
