Micronutrients & recovery
Higher fecal abundance of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium in pregnant women is associated with improved biochemical markers, including higher HDL-cholesterol, higher folic acid, and lower triglycerides.
For pregnant women, a gut microbiome with higher levels of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium is linked to better lipid profiles (higher HDL, lower triglycerides) and higher folic acid levels. Since folic acid is critical for fetal neural tube development, supporting these bacteria through a fiber-rich diet may be beneficial. However, this is an association, not a prescription for supplementation.
Increased Bacteroides numbers were related to increased HDL-cholesterol and folic acid levels, and reduced TAG levels. Increased Bifidobacterium numbers were related to increased folic acid levels.
Why this rating
Correlational data from a small observational study; causality is not established.
Source
Gut microbiota composition is associated with body weight, weight gain and biochemical parameters in pregnant women
Arlette Santacruz et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 2010
DOI 10.1017/s0007114510000176
More from this paper
- In pregnant women, higher fecal abundance of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides is associated with normal pre-pregnancy BMI and normal gestational weight gain, whereas higher abundance of Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia coli is associated with overweight status and excessive weight gain.Moderate
- Higher fecal abundance of Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia coli in pregnant women is associated with unfavorable biochemical markers, including higher total cholesterol, higher ferritin, and lower transferrin.Moderate
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