Probiotics in Pregnancy pilot study

Maternal prenatal depression or anxiety during late pregnancy are risk factors for adverse health and behaviour outcomes in offspring.

With prevalence rates of prenatal depression or anxiety ranging between 10-20%, attempts to identify feasible and effective interventions to reduce symptoms are priority in the prenatal care and clinical setting.

There are indications that probiotics, as a food supplement, by improving the intestinal microbiota, can improve mental wellbeing.

The probiotic mixture used in this study has been shown
to significantly reduce negative thoughts associated with sad mood in healthy adults.

Probiotics, with their anti-inflammatory and neuroregulatory properties, may improve intestinal microbiota in pregnant mothers and consequently their mood. Additionally, prenatal ingestion of probiotics by mothers may improve their vaginal microbiota, which may in turn positively influence their offspring’s developing microbiota.

This study assesses the feasibility of a multispecies
probiotic intervention in pregnant women, to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, in preparation for a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT).

This randomized controlled pilot study evaluates the feasibility of probiotic food supplement intervention in pregnant women, as an adjuvant therapy, to reduce prenatal maternal depression and anxiety.

Our first hypothesis is that all feasibility criteria linked to the intervention and study design will be met (e.g feasibility of recruitment pathways, participant retention, acceptability of study measures).

Our second hypothesis is that probiotic consumption will lead to a reduction of levels of prenatal maternal anxiety, depression and stress.

Baseline/T0: week 26 gestation

T1: week 34 gestation

T2: day 7 post partum

T3: week 4 post partum

Subjects will be randomly allocated to either control group (placebo) or intervention probiotic group. Probiotic/placebo intake once daily for 8 up to 14 constituent weeks.