The causal relationship between gut microbiota and preterm birth: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Abstract

Background: Preterm birth, a significant global health concern, has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiota. However, the causal nature of this relationship remains uncertain due to the limitations inherent in observational studies.

Purpose: To investigate the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota imbalances and preterm birth.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the MiBioGen consortium focusing on microbiota and preterm birth. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the microbiota were selected as instrumental variables. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was used to estimate causality. We confirmed pleiotropy and identified and excluded outlier SNPs using MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger regression. Cochran's Q test was applied to assess heterogeneity among SNPs, and a leave-one-out analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of individual SNPs on overall estimates.

Results: Our findings provide evidence for a causal link between specific components of the gut microbiota and preterm birth, with the identification of relevant metabolites.

Conclusion: This study highlights the causal role of gut microbiota imbalances in preterm birth, offering novel insights into the development of preterm birth and potential targets for prevention strategies.