» Articles » PMID: 37426026

Prenatal Lead Exposure is Negatively Associated with the Gut Microbiome in Childhood

Overview
Journal Front Microbiol
Specialty Microbiology
Date 2023 Jul 10
PMID 37426026
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Metal exposures are associated with gut microbiome (GM) composition and function, and exposures early in development may be particularly important. Considering the role of the GM in association with many adverse health outcomes, understanding the relationship between prenatal metal exposures and the GM is critically important. However, there is sparse knowledge of the association between prenatal metal exposure and GM later in childhood.

Objectives: This analysis aims to identify associations between prenatal lead (Pb) exposure and GM composition and function in children 9-11 years old.

Methods: Data come from the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) cohort based in Mexico City, Mexico. Prenatal metal concentrations were measured in maternal whole blood drawn during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Stool samples collected at 9-11 years old underwent metagenomic sequencing to assess the GM. This analysis uses multiple statistical modeling approaches, including linear regression, permutational analysis of variance, weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), and individual taxa regressions, to estimate the association between maternal blood Pb during pregnancy and multiple aspects of the child GM at 9-11 years old, adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results: Of the 123 child participants in this pilot data analysis, 74 were male and 49 were female. Mean prenatal maternal blood Pb was 33.6 (SE = 2.1) ug/L and 34.9 (SE = 2.1) ug/L at second and third trimesters, respectively. Analysis suggests a consistent negative relationship between prenatal maternal blood Pb and the GM at age 9-11, including measures of alpha and beta diversity, microbiome mixture analysis, and individual taxa. The WQS analysis showed a negative association between prenatal Pb exposure and the gut microbiome, for both second and third trimester exposures (2Tβ = -0.17, 95%CI = [-0.46,0.11]; 3Tβ = -0.17, 95%CI = [-0.44,0.10]). , , , , and all had weights above the importance threshold from 80% or more of the WQS repeated holdouts in association with both second and third trimester Pb exposure.

Discussion: Pilot data analysis suggests a negative association between prenatal Pb exposure and the gut microbiome later in childhood; however, additional investigation is needed.

Citing Articles

Major heavy metals and human gut microbiota composition: a systematic review with nutritional approach.

Rezazadegan M, Forootani B, Hoveyda Y, Rezazadegan N, Amani R J Health Popul Nutr. 2025; 44(1):21.

PMID: 39871318 PMC: 11773724. DOI: 10.1186/s41043-025-00750-4.


attenuates association between specific metal exposures during pregnancy and depressive symptoms in late childhood.

Midya V, Nagdeo K, Lane J, Torres-Olascoaga L, Martinez G, Horton M iScience. 2024; 27(12):111335.

PMID: 39640590 PMC: 11617302. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111335.


Association between Exposure to Metals during Pregnancy, Childhood Gut Microbiome, and Risk of Intestinal Inflammation in Late Childhood.

Midya V, Agrawal M, Lane J, Gennings C, Tarassishin L, Torres-Olascoaga L Environ Health (Wash). 2024; 2(10):739-749.

PMID: 39474439 PMC: 11501044. DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.4c00125.


Prenatal metal exposures and childhood gut microbial signatures are associated with depression score in late childhood.

Midya V, Nagdeo K, Lane J, Torres-Olascoaga L, Torres-Calapiz M, Gennings C Sci Total Environ. 2024; 916:170361.

PMID: 38278245 PMC: 10922719. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170361.


Prenatal Lead Exposure Is Associated with Reduced Abundance of Beneficial Gut Microbial Cliques in Late Childhood: An Investigation Using Microbial Co-Occurrence Analysis (MiCA).

Midya V, Lane J, Gennings C, Torres-Olascoaga L, Gregory J, Wright R Environ Sci Technol. 2023; 57(44):16800-16810.

PMID: 37878664 PMC: 10634322. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04346.


References
1.
Sanders A, Gennings C, Tamayo-Ortiz M, Mistry S, Pantic I, Martinez M . Prenatal and early childhood critical windows for the association of nephrotoxic metal and metalloid mixtures with kidney function. Environ Int. 2022; 166:107361. PMC: 9792626. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107361. View

2.
Laue H, Moroishi Y, Jackson B, Palys T, Madan J, Karagas M . Nutrient-toxic element mixtures and the early postnatal gut microbiome in a United States longitudinal birth cohort. Environ Int. 2020; 138:105613. PMC: 7136131. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105613. View

3.
Klein L, Breakey A, Scelza B, Valeggia C, Jasienska G, Hinde K . Concentrations of trace elements in human milk: Comparisons among women in Argentina, Namibia, Poland, and the United States. PLoS One. 2017; 12(8):e0183367. PMC: 5560670. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183367. View

4.
Chen Y, Lin H, Cole M, Morris A, Martinson J, McKay H . Signature changes in gut microbiome are associated with increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in MSM. Microbiome. 2021; 9(1):237. PMC: 8656045. DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01168-w. View

5.
Shao L, Ling Z, Chen D, Liu Y, Yang F, Li L . Disorganized Gut Microbiome Contributed to Liver Cirrhosis Progression: A Meta-Omics-Based Study. Front Microbiol. 2019; 9:3166. PMC: 6315199. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03166. View