Summary
This cross-sectional analysis of 104 mother–infant pairs from the MAMI cohort demonstrates that maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy influence infant gut microbiota composition via both direct and microbiota-mediated mechanisms. A Mediterranean-style pregnancy diet was associated with greater infant gut diversity and lower Veillonella abundance, whereas pro-inflammatory dietary patterns showed the opposite effect; maternal Coprococcus emerged as the strongest microbial mediator of these associations. These findings support the hypothesis that maternal nutrition programmes early-life microbial development through changes in maternal microbiota composition that are subsequently transmitted to the infant.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK maternal and infant health policy, as they underscore the importance of promoting Mediterranean-style dietary patterns during pregnancy for optimal early-life microbiota development. However, the study is Spanish and conducted in a specific cohort; UK-specific validation and examination of how findings apply to diverse dietary and ethnic backgrounds within the UK population would strengthen clinical translation.
Key measures
Modified Mediterranean Dietary Score (MMDS), Dietary Quality Index (DQI), Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII); infant Veillonella relative abundance; maternal Coprococcus abundance; Shannon and Simpson diversity indices; mediation effect sizes (a × b)
Outcomes reported
The study examined associations between maternal dietary quality indices (MMDS, DQI, HEI, DII) during pregnancy and infant gut microbiota composition at one month postpartum, including the mediating role of maternal microbial taxa. Infant faecal samples were analysed via 16S rRNA sequencing, and causal mediation analysis was used to identify direct and microbiota-mediated pathways linking maternal nutrition to early microbial programming.
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