The study examined meconium samples from 71 newborns within five days of birth, collected at Kangwon National University Hospital and Bundang CHA Hospital. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, researchers assessed the diversity and distribution of microbial species in the infants’ gastrointestinal tract.
Findings showed clear differences in microbial profiles tied to maternal weight status. Newborns of overweight mothers had lower levels of Lachnospira, a beneficial bacterium linked to immune regulation and gut health. Conversely, infants born to underweight mothers displayed higher levels of beneficial bacteria, including Lachnospira and Weissella.
Additionally, the study noted that newborns of mothers with optimal gestational weight gain exhibited increased levels of Holdemania, a microbe associated with gut health. In contrast, infants of mothers with inadequate or excessive weight gain during pregnancy showed higher proportions of Klebsiella, an opportunistic pathogen.
These findings underscore the complex relationship between maternal health and the development of a newborn’s gut microbiome, with potential long-term effects on immune and metabolic health. Further studies are needed to explore how these early microbial differences influence child development.
Lim Hye Jung, HEALTH IN NEWS TEAM
press@hinews.co.kr
