Relationships between gut microbiota, plasma glucose and gestational diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Journal of diabetes investigation 2021-04, Vol.12 (4), p.641-650
• Main Authors: Chen, Ting, Zhang, Yuqing, Zhang, Yiyun, Shan, Chunjian, Zhang, Yingying, Fang, Kacey, Xia, Yankai, Shi, Zhonghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Blood Glucose; Body mass index; Case-Control Studies; Childrens health; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes, Gestational - blood; Diabetes, Gestational - microbiology; Diagnosis; Digestive system; Discriminant analysis; DNA; Feces; Female; Firmicutes; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gestational diabetes; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Glucose; Glucose tolerance; Gut microbiome; Hospitals; Humans; Intestinal microflora; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Oral glucose tolerance test; Original; Overweight; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Serum levels; Taxonomy; Variables; Womens health
• ISSN: 2040-1116; 2040-1124
• DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13373

Aims/Introduction To investigate the changes in the gut microbiome in the second trimester of pregnancy associated with later‐diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their relationship with fasting serum levels of metabolites, especially glucose. Materials and Methods We carried out a case–control study with 110 GDM patients and 220 healthy pregnant women who provided fecal samples for 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequencing in the second trimester of pregnancy. Results Our results showed that GDM patients had lower α‐diversity that was significantly associated with glycemic traits. Principal coordinates analysis showed significantly different microbial communities, as within GDM patients, seven genera within the phylum Firmicutes and two within the phylum Actinobacteria were significantly decreased, and four genera within phylum Bacteroidetes were increased. In addition, microbiota co‐occurrence network analysis was carried out, and decreased genera within the phylum Firmicutes in GDM patients showed a significant negative correlation with oral glucose tolerance test values. Finally, microbial gene functions related to glycan biosynthesis and metabolism were found to be enriched in GDM patients. Conclusions Our results show the relationship between changed gut microbiota composition in the second trimester of pregnancy before the diagnosis of GDM and fasting serum levels of metabolites, which might inform the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of GDM. A significantly lower α‐diversity and changed microbial communities were identified in the gestational diabetes mellitus group compared with the normal pregnancy group. Changed microbiome composition is associated with fasting serum levels of metabolites, especially glucose. Microbial gene functions related to glycan biosynthesis and metabolism are found to be enriched in gestational diabetes mellitus patients.