Abstract Pregnancy is a time of large physiological changes to maternal metabolism. Placental hor... more Abstract Pregnancy is a time of large physiological changes to maternal metabolism. Placental hormone secretions cause a rise in maternal insulin resistance that ensures adequate glucose supply to the developing fetus. Mitochondria in highly metabolically active organs—such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, pancreatic beta cells, and the placenta—play a critical role in accomplishing the metabolic alterations associated with healthy pregnancy. In mothers who are overweight or obese prior to falling pregnant, baseline insulin resistance is high, and is further exacerbated by the pregnancy-associated rise in insulin resistance. This, and other obesity-related metabolic maladaptations, has been linked to the development of important pregnancy disorders such as gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia, which can have major adverse effects on the mother and offspring in both the short term and long term.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension and dysfunction of se... more Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension and dysfunction of several organs, that is associated with maternal and fetal complications. The human gut microbiota is related to health and disease including hypertension. Alterations in gut microbiota composition can change the short-chain fatty acid profile released by the bacteria and contribute to hypertension and metabolic syndrome. It is unclear if the composition of the gut microbiota is altered in women who develop late-onset preeclampsia. In this study, we investigated the composition of the gut microbiota at 28 weeks gestation in women who developed late-onset (>34 weeks gestation) preeclampsia (DPE) by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of fecal samples obtained from 213 pregnant women in the SPRING cohort (Study of Probiotics IN Gestational diabetes). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess the density of butyrate-producing genes. Gut microbiota composition was compared between women with and without DPE. The abundance of the butyrate-producing Coprococcus genus significantly decreased in DPE. Abundance of Coprococcus is significantly and positively correlated with the abundance of genes encoding the terminal step in bacterial butyrate formation (but and buk). Women with DPE also had significantly reduced levels of serum butyrate prior to the development of symptoms than controls. This study suggests that a reduction in the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, and Coprococcus spp. in particular, may contribute to an increased risk of developing preeclampsia in pregnant women.
The microbiome, the composite of bacteria present on the human body, has a critical role in the r... more The microbiome, the composite of bacteria present on the human body, has a critical role in the regulation of metabolism, immune function, and behavior. In pregnancy, the gut microbiota is altered, becoming less diverse as pregnancy progresses. The oral, vaginal, and placental microbiotas may also be affected by pregnancy. These changes may contribute to maternal physiological changes in pregnancy. Outside pregnancy, obesity, and diabetes are associated with changes to the composition of the gut microbiota. Whether or not obesity and diabetes compound pregnancy-associated changes to the microbiome is unclear. Manipulation of the gut microbiota by probiotic supplementation may be a strategy to prevent the development of gestational diabetes mellitus. In this chapter, the pregnancy-associated changes to the microbiome and the effects of probiotic supplementation on the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus will be discussed.
BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a profound negative impact on health. However... more BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a profound negative impact on health. However, the strength of the association between ACEs and pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes is not well quantified or understood.ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between ACEs and risk of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Search strategyA comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google scholar up to July 2022.Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers independently conducted the screening and quality appraisal using a validated tool. Meta-analysis using the quality-effects model on the reported odds ratio (OR) was conducted. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were examined using the I2statistics.Results32 studies from 1508 met a priori inclusion criteria for systematic review, with 21 included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analyses showed that exposure to ACEs...
Abstract Pregnancy is a time of large physiological changes to maternal metabolism. Placental hor... more Abstract Pregnancy is a time of large physiological changes to maternal metabolism. Placental hormone secretions cause a rise in maternal insulin resistance that ensures adequate glucose supply to the developing fetus. Mitochondria in highly metabolically active organs—such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, pancreatic beta cells, and the placenta—play a critical role in accomplishing the metabolic alterations associated with healthy pregnancy. In mothers who are overweight or obese prior to falling pregnant, baseline insulin resistance is high, and is further exacerbated by the pregnancy-associated rise in insulin resistance. This, and other obesity-related metabolic maladaptations, has been linked to the development of important pregnancy disorders such as gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia, which can have major adverse effects on the mother and offspring in both the short term and long term.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension and dysfunction of se... more Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension and dysfunction of several organs, that is associated with maternal and fetal complications. The human gut microbiota is related to health and disease including hypertension. Alterations in gut microbiota composition can change the short-chain fatty acid profile released by the bacteria and contribute to hypertension and metabolic syndrome. It is unclear if the composition of the gut microbiota is altered in women who develop late-onset preeclampsia. In this study, we investigated the composition of the gut microbiota at 28 weeks gestation in women who developed late-onset (>34 weeks gestation) preeclampsia (DPE) by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of fecal samples obtained from 213 pregnant women in the SPRING cohort (Study of Probiotics IN Gestational diabetes). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess the density of butyrate-producing genes. Gut microbiota composition was compared between women with and without DPE. The abundance of the butyrate-producing Coprococcus genus significantly decreased in DPE. Abundance of Coprococcus is significantly and positively correlated with the abundance of genes encoding the terminal step in bacterial butyrate formation (but and buk). Women with DPE also had significantly reduced levels of serum butyrate prior to the development of symptoms than controls. This study suggests that a reduction in the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, and Coprococcus spp. in particular, may contribute to an increased risk of developing preeclampsia in pregnant women.
The microbiome, the composite of bacteria present on the human body, has a critical role in the r... more The microbiome, the composite of bacteria present on the human body, has a critical role in the regulation of metabolism, immune function, and behavior. In pregnancy, the gut microbiota is altered, becoming less diverse as pregnancy progresses. The oral, vaginal, and placental microbiotas may also be affected by pregnancy. These changes may contribute to maternal physiological changes in pregnancy. Outside pregnancy, obesity, and diabetes are associated with changes to the composition of the gut microbiota. Whether or not obesity and diabetes compound pregnancy-associated changes to the microbiome is unclear. Manipulation of the gut microbiota by probiotic supplementation may be a strategy to prevent the development of gestational diabetes mellitus. In this chapter, the pregnancy-associated changes to the microbiome and the effects of probiotic supplementation on the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus will be discussed.
BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a profound negative impact on health. However... more BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a profound negative impact on health. However, the strength of the association between ACEs and pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes is not well quantified or understood.ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between ACEs and risk of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Search strategyA comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google scholar up to July 2022.Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers independently conducted the screening and quality appraisal using a validated tool. Meta-analysis using the quality-effects model on the reported odds ratio (OR) was conducted. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were examined using the I2statistics.Results32 studies from 1508 met a priori inclusion criteria for systematic review, with 21 included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analyses showed that exposure to ACEs...
Uploads
Papers by Marloes Nitert