Longitudinal Gut Microbiota Composition During Perinatal period in Women with Different Intensities of Depressive Symptoms.

Background: Depressive symptoms during perinatal significantly impact mothers and infants. Emerging evidence suggests a connection between gut microbiota and mood regulation. This study investigated whether depressive symptoms are associated with changes in the gut microbiota of women during the perinatal period.

Method: A total of 34 pregnant women were screened for depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and categorized based on symptom severity. Stool samples were collected during the third trimester and at two postpartum timepoints. All samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and Quantification of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS).

Results: No differences in SCFA concentrations were observed between groups (p>0.05). However, postpartum women with moderate to severe symptoms (MG group) had a significant increase in Enterobacteriaceae abundance compared to the mild and absent group (AL group) (p<0.05). The Bifidobacterium genus increased significantly in both groups over time (p<0.05). The MG group showed a reduction in depressive symptoms during psychiatric treatment (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These findings suggest a link between gut microbiota and perinatal depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to understand the broader implications for maternal health through microbiome-targeted approaches.