Characterisation of the Gut Microbiota in Term Infants After Maternal Prenatal and Postnatal Supplementation of Probiotics - an Open Label Pilot Study
Characterisation of the Gut Microbiota in Term Infants After Maternal Prenatal and Postnatal Supplementation of Probiotics - an Open Label Pilot Study
A monocenter, open label pilot study in pregnant women and their offspring with at least four weeks prenatal and four weeks postnatal maternal intervention with a study product consisting of four different food constituents.
The study will investigate the effect of maternal supplementation with the food constituents on the recovery of the constituents in the maternal and infant feces, the microbiota in both mother and infant and potential transmission routes from mother to infant.
Pregnant women will be recruited at the ordinary midwife visit in gestational week 28. The intervention will begin in gestational week 33+0 to ensure at least four weeks prenatal intervention before expected birth.
The study will be conducted in four phases. First phase is the run-in phase. The second phase is the prenatal intervention period from gestational week 33+0 until birth. Third phase is the postnatal intervention period, from birth until four weeks postnatal. The last phase is a two weeks follow-up period without any intake of the investigational product.
Infant stool samples, as well as maternal breast milk samples, stool and urine samples and samples from vagina will be collected on multiple occasions during the study. In addition, sample from placenta, umbilical cord, umbilical cord blood and amnion fluid will be collected. Mothers will be asked to complete electronic questionnaires daily during the course of the study.
Inclusion Criteria
Pregnant women:
Infants:
1. Gestational age between 37-42 weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
Pregnant women • Use of immunosuppressant drugs.
Infants:
• None