Association between labor epidural analgesia and gut microbiota: A prospective cohort study
Jing-hui Hu,
Jie Sheng,
Hui-min Guo,
Hong Liu,
Xinyue Zhang,
Bing Han,
Ke Peng,
Fu-hai Ji
Affiliations
Jing-hui Hu
Departments of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Anesthesiology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Jie Sheng
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
Hui-min Guo
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
Hong Liu
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
Xinyue Zhang
Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Bing Han
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
Ke Peng
Departments of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Anesthesiology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding author. Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University 188 Shizi St, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China.
Fu-hai Ji
Departments of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Anesthesiology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding author. Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi St, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China.
Background: Labor epidural analgesia (LEA) may influence gut microbiota. We explored the association between LEA and gut microbiota for both mothers and their newborns. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, parturients aged 25–35 years with a gestational age of 37–42 weeks and planned vaginal delivery were recruited. Twenty-one parturients received LEA (the LEA group), and 24 did not (the control group). Maternal and neonatal fecal samples were collected, and the gut microbiota profiles were analyzed using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The impact of LEA on gut microbiota was assessed using the general liner models. Results: We showcased the gut microbiota profile from the phyla to species levels based on data on 45 mother-newborn dyads. The results of α- and β-diversity suggested significant changes in gut microbiota between the LEA and control groups. After adjusting for baseline confounders, the administration of LEA had positive correlations with R. ilealis (β = 91.87, adjusted P = 0.007) in mothers; LEA also had negative correlations with A. pittii (β = −449.36, adjusted P = 0.015), P. aeruginosa (β = −192.55, adjusted P = 0.008), or S. maltophilia (β = −142.62, adjusted P = 0.001) in mothers, and with Muribaculaceae (β = −2702.77, adjusted P = 0.003) in neonates. Conclusion: LEA was associated with changes in maternal and neonatal gut microbiota, and future studies are still required to assess their impact on clinical outcomes and explore the mechanisms.
