Pregnant Women's Gut Bacteria Impact Baby's Brain Growth: Study - Video

The presence of Bifidobacterium breve in the mother's gut during pregnancy promotes healthy brain development in the fetus.

In the study published in the Journal Molecular Metabolism, researchers have compared the fetal brain development in mice with mothers lacking gut bacteria against those with mothers who were given Bifidobacterium breve orally during pregnancy but had no other bacteria in their gut.

Nutrient transport to the brain was enhanced in fetuses of mothers who received Bifidobacterium breve, and other beneficial changes were observed in growth-related cell processes.

Bifidobacterium breve is a beneficial bacterium naturally found in the gut and is available as a supplement in probiotic drinks and tablets.

Obesity or chronic stress can disrupt the gut microbiome of pregnant women, often leading to fetal growth issues. Up to 10% of first-time mothers have babies with low birth weight or fetal growth restriction. Inadequate growth in the womb increases the risk of conditions such as cerebral palsy in infants and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, autism, and schizophrenia later in life.

These findings suggest that taking Bifidobacterium breve supplements during pregnancy may enhance fetal brain development and support the healthy development of the baby.

The study was conducted in mice, enabling a controlled assessment of Bifidobacterium breve's effects that would be challenging to achieve in humans. The researchers were able to precisely control the mice's genetics, microorganisms, and environment. They believe that the effects observed are likely to be similar in humans.

The researchers now intend to continue their work by tracking brain development in the offspring after birth and exploring how Bifidobacterium breve interacts with other gut bacteria in natural conditions.

Reference: Lopez-Tello, J., Kiu, R., Schofield, Z., Zhang, C. X. W., van Sinderen, D., Le Gall, G., Hall, L. J., & Sferruzzi-Perri, A. N. (2024). Maternal gut Bifidobacterium breve modifies fetal brain metabolism in germ-free mice. Molecular Metabolism, 69, 102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2024.102004