A recent study conducted by researchers from Michigan State University revealed that pregnant women who suffer from life stress and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder have different types and numbers of microbes in their mouths than those who do not suffer from these stresses.
The intestine is not the only source of microbes capable of affecting human health. The oral cavity is another source rich in bacteria, and while the oral microbiome is most often studied for its association with dental problems, it is believed that it also affects neurobiological function, including mental and other diseases. Of neurological and psychological disorders.
The oral microbiome is a complex assembly of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, that naturally live in the oral cavity. This microbial population includes various areas in the mouth, such as teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks. The oral microbiome acts as the first line of defense against harmful microbes that enter the body through the mouth.
The study, the results of which were published in the journal BMG Mental Health, included 224 pregnant women enrolled in the Michigan Prenatal Stress Study. The women’s exposure to stress and mental health symptoms were assessed during the second trimester of pregnancy. They were asked to provide saliva samples during the week of their assessment.
The results showed that the oral microbiome differed depending on whether women reported symptoms of life stress, anxiety, depression, or PTSD during assessments.
Diversity in bacteria
Microbiome diversity is discussed in terms of describing differences in the number and type of microorganisms within the body. Two types of metrics used to look at microbiome diversity are alpha and beta diversity: alpha diversity measures the relative abundance of organisms, while beta diversity measures variation in the composition of these organisms.
The oral microbiomes of women with high anxiety or depression symptoms showed high alpha diversity, meaning they included many types of microbes present at relatively equal levels, meaning that one type was unlikely to dominate.
The oral microbiota of women with high levels of PTSD symptoms instead showed high beta diversity, meaning that the specific types of microbes in their saliva differed markedly from the types found in women with low PTSD symptoms. .
Who is responsible for this change?
22 variables that can affect the microbiome were investigated. This analysis revealed that cigarette smoking could explain 7.2% of the observed variation in the oral microbiome, dental problems could explain 3.1%, and intimate partner violence could explain 4.1%.
The authors conclude that the study “shows that several aspects of the oral microbiome during pregnancy are associated with life stress and women’s mental health. Importantly, these associations differ from studies of the gut microbiome and studies of non-pregnant people.”
They say – according to the Eurek Alert website – “The successful targeting of the gut microbiome with treatment with probiotics (good bacteria) to improve maternal mental health can be expanded in future studies to target the oral cavity microbiome through dietary changes, and provide recommendations for improving oral health, and probiotic treatments that may benefit mothers who They suffer from high life stress and poor mental health.”