Study: Oral microbiome changes linked to mental health symptoms in pregnant women

Mental health conditions, including anxiety, stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affect over 15% of expectant mothers globally. A recent study conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, published in BMJ Mental Health, has identified potential links between changes in the oral microbiome and mental health symptoms during pregnancy.

The study enrolled more than 200 pregnant women in their second trimester and collected saliva samples for microbial analysis. It found that specific changes in the oral microbiome were associated with higher mental health symptom scores.

Using surveys to assess stress levels, researchers grouped participants and noted significant differences in microbial diversity. Women with high trait anxiety or depression symptoms exhibited greater oral microbial diversity, known as alpha diversity. These findings suggest an increased richness of bacterial species in women experiencing heightened mental health symptoms.

“Pregnant women in the high trait anxiety or depression symptom groups had higher oral alpha diversity, indicating higher richness of species within samples,” the study noted.

The study also explained that the oral microbiome‘s association with mental health in pregnancy may differ from what has been observed in studies on the gut microbiome or in non-pregnant populations.

The researchers emphasized that understanding these connections could pave the way for new interventions targeting the oral microbiome to enhance maternal mental health and well-being.