Oral Microbiome May Influence Mental Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a transformative time, but for some women, it is accompanied by stress and mental health challenges. New research from Michigan State University (MSU) sheds light on a surprising factor that could influence maternal mental health: the oral microbiome.

The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, is the first to explore the relationship between the microbes in a pregnant woman's saliva and her mental health. “Positive mental health is crucial for mothers' well-being and their ability to sensitively care for infants,” said Joseph Lonstein, PhD, lead researcher and professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology.

According to the study, the oral microbiome consists of microorganisms in the mouth and throat. For this investigation, researchers examined how its composition varied among pregnant women experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They analyzed saliva samples from 224 women in their second trimester enrolled in the Michigan Prenatal Stress Study.

The findings revealed distinct patterns in the oral microbiome based on mental health symptoms:

• Anxiety and Depression: Women with high symptoms of anxiety or depression had oral microbiomes characterized by high alpha diversity, meaning many different microbe species were present at relatively equal levels.
• PTSD: Women with high PTSD symptoms exhibited high beta diversity, indicating their saliva contained notably different microbial species compared to those with low PTSD symptoms.
• Stress-Associated Microbes: Certain microbes were more prevalent in women with specific mental health symptoms, further linking the oral microbiome to psychological well-being.

Implications for Mental Health Interventions

The study suggests that the oral microbiome could serve as a new target for interventions to improve maternal mental health. “We hope our study will stimulate future research on how microbes in and on our body, other than those in our gastrointestinal tract that are already often studied, are associated with mental health in mothers and even people who are not mothers,” said Dr. Lonstein.

The researchers propose building on successful gut microbiome interventions to explore treatments for oral cavity microbes. These could include:

• Dietary Changes: Adjusting diets to promote beneficial oral microbes.
• Oral Health Recommendations: Enhancing oral hygiene practices to support microbial balance.
• Probiotic Treatments: Developing probiotics specifically targeting oral microbes to alleviate stress and improve psychological health.

The study suggests that by addressing the oral microbiome through simple and non-invasive measures, practitioners may be able to support pregnant women experiencing stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. However, according to the researchers, studies are needed to determine how interventions targeting the oral microbiome might complement existing mental health treatments.