Gut microbiota and greenness co-exposure contributed to maternal prenatal depression

Abstract

Previous studies have reported an association between depression with gut microbiota and residential greenness exposure. The aim of our study was to explore whether gut microbiota and residential greenness co-exposure contributed to maternal prenatal depression. We collected demographic information, stool samples, and exposure to residential greenness from 75 pregnant women in the third trimester. Participants were divided into prenatal depression group and control group according to the score of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA V3/V4 gene sequence. Residential greenness [normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)] during pregnancy was calculated using database of National Science and Technology Infrastructure of China. There were significant differences between gut microbial composition in two groups. Phylum Patescibacteria (OR=5.34*e4, 95% CI: 1.48 - 1.92*e9, P-value=0.042) and greenness exposure (OR=0.15, 95% CI: 0.04 - 0.63, P-value=0.010) significantly contributed to prenatal depression, which indicated the protective effects of greenness exposure to prenatal depression. And Adlercreutzia (OR=1.44*e4, 95% CI: 2.70 – 7.70*e9, P-value=0.032) and greenness exposure (OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.21 – 0.73, P-value=0.003) also significantly contributed to prenatal depression. Our study highlights that gut microbiota and greenness co-exposure during pregnancy contributed to maternal prenatal depression. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms contributing to the co-exposure of gut microbiota and greenness associated with depression in pregnant women.