Probiotics in Pregnancy

A healthy microbiome is crucial in preventing illness and maintaining overall health, including reproductive health. Although the therapeutic advantages of probiotics are seen over multiple organ systems, their role in pregnancy remains unclear. A review by El Dahan KS. et al. highlight probiotics' potential advantages and adverse effects in pregnancy. It collected the data from the literature over the past decade using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Ovid, Scopus, and Science Direct; and included a total of 40 articles for the review. Collected data indicated that prenatal and post-natal supplementation with lactobacilli alone or with Bifidobacterium spp. is protective. Probiotics may enhance insulin resistance and, consequently, lower the risk of gestational diabetes. They may also diminish anxiety and depression by influencing brain activity. Further, they interfere with vaginal flora to make it friendlier to beneficial bacteria and enhance anti-inflammatory or reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. They may also reduce eczema in breastfed infants and prevent allergic reactions by downregulating Th2 responses to specific allergens from mid to late gestation. 

Thus, Leveraging cervicovaginal microbiota may render positive pregnancy-related health outcomes. However, it is important to exercise caution in the selection, dosing, and monitoring of probiotics administration. More comprehensive randomized clinical trials must be carried out to reach more meaningful evidence-based clinical knowledge.

El Dahan KS, Bejjani J, Nasrallah AA, et al. Probiotics Properties: A Focus on Pregnancy Outcomes. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2022;272:16-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.03.008.