UPFRONT | News and events INFANT HEALTH Prenatal stress associated with infant gut microbes Mother’s chronic prenatal psy-chological distress and elevated hair cortisol concentrations are as-sociated with gut microbiota com-position of the infant, according to a new publication from the FinnBrain research project of the University of Turku, Finland. The results help to better understand how prenatal stress can be connected to infant growth and development. The study has been published in the Psychoneuroendocrinology journal. Prenatal stress can be associat-ed with infant growth and develop-ment. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not yet fully understood. “We were able to show that maternal chronic psychological distress and elevated hair cortisol concentrations during pregnancy are associated with infant gut mi-crobiota composition but not di-versity,” says Doctoral Candidate, Doctor Anna Aatsinki. The study used hair cortisol analysis which enabled measuring the concentration averages of stress hormone cortisol over sev-eral months. In addition, the symp-toms of the mother were assessed three times during pregnancy. The infant gut microbiota was analysed early at the age of 2.5 months with next generation sequencing. Previously, similar studies have focused on animals and two have been smaller human studies making this data consisting of 399 mothers and their infants the largest in the world so far. The received results provide significant new information on the phenomenon. In addition, this study was able to confirm pre-viously made observations. “We discovered, for instance, that mother’s chronic prenatal psychological distress was linked to increased abundances of Proteobacteria genera in infant microbiota. In addition, chronic psychological symptoms were connected to decreased abun-dances of Akkermansia genera which is considered to promote health at least in adults,” summa-rises Aatsinki. According to Aatsinki, it was also interesting that low cortisol concentrations were associated with increased abundances of Lactobacillus in infant gut microbiota. Lactobacillus bacteria are considered to promote health. However, Proteobacteria also contain species that are able to cause inflammation in the body. Proteobacteria can also be associ-ated with the child’s disease risk later in life. Therefore, researchers consider it important to study how the observed changes are connect-ed to later child development. “Our study does not explain the cause-effect relationship, or whether prenatal psychological stress is linked to differences in microbial metabolic products or e.g. in immune system function. In other words, important ques-tions still need to be answered,” notes Aatsinki. — University of Turku RECOGNITION We deserve a chance to... As I look towards the future, this little saying began to crystallize over the last few days, in honour of Black Lives Matter. —Dr. Don Fitz-Ritson (DC) Grow normally, develop and shine Proper healthcare and education Have equal opportunities Breathe more normally Live without a target on our backs Prove our worth by contributing Be treated with respect Accept our hair and how we look Not be labelled by our skin colour Not expect us to speak like you Be able to laugh out loud To dance and express ourselves our way To give you more Caribana To not judge us constantly To listen to us and really connect Give us opportunities to share our knowledge Help the City, Province and Canada which we all love and live in. 10 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor July/August 2020 STRESS Healthcare workers susceptible to PTSD The Centre of Excellence on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder says health-care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are susceptible to severe stress that could cause long-term psychological damage. The centre at the Royal Ottawa Hospital has teamed up with an Australian group to develop a guide for facilities including hospitals and peer-support organizations in an effort to reduce the impact on those at risk of so-called moral injury on the job. The centre says it and the Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health prepared the guide so preventative and early interven-tion measures could be taken to help people caring for patients with a disease that’s not fully understood. It says entire organizations must adopt measures such as rotating staff between high-and low-stress roles, establishing policies to guide employees through ethically tough decisions and promoting a sup-portive culture. The guide calls on health-care workers, including doctors, nurses, lab technicians and social workers, to practise self-care through prop-er nutrition, exercise and social connection and seek professional help when needed. Dr. Patrick Smith, CEO of the Canadian centre, says health-care workers are facing an extreme and unprecedented work experience while many are fearing they and their families may also become in-fected with COVID-19. www.Cndoctor.ca
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