Impact of periodontitis on oral microbiota in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to explore the distribution characteristics of oral microbiota in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its association with periodontitis.

METHODS

This case-control study included 80 GDM women, divided into the periodontitis group (PD group, n = 40) and the periodontally healthy group (N group, n = 40). Unstimulated saliva samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing targeting the V3∼V4 region. We used α-diversity and β-diversity to assess the richness and diversity of the oral microbiota and the variability between groups. The Mann-Whitney U test and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis were used to identify significant differences in microbial composition and to evaluate categorical differences between groups.

RESULTS

Significant differences in α-diversity and β-diversity were observed between the PD group and the N group. The PD group exhibited a higher abundance of Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Spirochaetota, Synergistota, and Choroflexi compared to the N group. LEfSe analysis identified Spirochaetora and Tetraptera as the taxonomic biomarkers in the PD group. Furthermore, activating environmental adaptation, terpenoid and polyketide metabolism, and the immune and endocrine systems pathways may be involved in the potential mechanisms of the PD group.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant correlation was observed between oral microbiota composition and periodontitis in pregnant women with GDM. Spirochaetota and Tetraptera are closely linked to the progression of periodontitis and may serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis. Targeting these microbial taxa could provide new strategies for preventing and managing periodontitis during pregnancy, potentially reducing adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.