Mother and child stool bacteriomes 1–2 years postpartum: Associations with maternal history of gestational diabetes and child atopic dermatitis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may contribute to the onset of immune-mediated diseases in offspring. This observational study included women belonging to the GDM risk group and aimed to investigate the gut bacteriomes of the mothers with and without recent history of GDM, and those of their children resulting from index pregnancies. Stool and blood samples were collected within one week at 1-2 years postpartum from mother-child pairs. Stool bacteriome 16S rDNA sequencing data were compared with maternal history of GDM, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes, metabolic biomarker levels, and children's atopic dermatitis diagnosis, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, HLA haplotypes, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and metabolic biomarker levels, and antibodies to food proteins. The GDM status, atopic dermatitis and IgE positivity were associated with the children's gut bacterial composition. These results indicate that GDM affects children's gut bacteriome composition even 1-2 years after birth.