Gut Reaction to Pregnancy a Mood Changer

Perinatal depression is common. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnancy and being postpartum leads to depression in an estimated one in 10 women. If not addressed, depression during pregnancy and after childbirth can be detrimental to the health and welfare of the pregnant person, their fetus, and their newborn.

The gut microbiome’s connection to the central nervous system has emerged as an area of study to understand its influence on mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. UIC researchers have expanded upon the gut-brain axis’ link to mood, becoming the first to investigate the body’s often-called “second brain” to predict and prevent perinatal depression.

Last year, Beatriz Peñalver-Bernabé, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, received a $3.27 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to fund a study on the role of the dynamic interplay between maternal and microbial systems in the pathobiology of pregnancy- and postpartum-related depression. Her translational research has led to the development of a novel animal model of perinatal depression.

“Our aim is to identify changes to bacteria or fungi in the gut to develop new therapies such as probiotics or prebiotics to modify their metabolism to treat perinatal depression,” says Pauline Maki, PhD, professor of psychiatry, psychology and obstetrics-gynecology. A mentor to Peñalver-Bernabé, Maki collaborates on this innovative work.

“Many expectant moms and especially women of color are skeptical of taking antidepressants,” continues Maki. “A more natural gut microbiome approach to depression could potentially help them to avoid typical antidepressant medications.”