Microbiome and Pregnancy Dysbiosis: A Narrative Review on Offspring Health.

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that the maternal microbiome plays a crucial role in shaping fetal neurodevelopment, immune programming, and metabolic health. Dysbiosis during pregnancy-whether gastrointestinal, oral, or vaginal-can significantly influence pregnancy outcomes and long-term child health. Materials and

Methods

The search was performed using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar including research published from January 2000 to January 2025. The keywords used were "Fetal Programming", " Maternal Immune Activation", "Maternal microbiome", "Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis", and "Pregnancy Dysbiosis".

Results

The maternal microbiome undergoes substantial changes during pregnancy, with alterations in microbial diversity and function linked to conditions such as gestational diabetes, obesity, and preeclampsia. Pregnancy-related dysbiosis has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cognitive impairments in offspring.

Conclusions

Understanding the intricate relationship between maternal microbiota and fetal health is essential for developing targeted interventions. Personalized microbiome-based strategies, including dietary modifications and probiotic supplementation, hold promise in optimizing pregnancy outcomes and promoting health in offspring.