Dutch Study of 714 Pairs Links Maternal Gut Microbiome to Infant Eczema Risk
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · Aug 12
Dutch Study of 714 Pairs Links Maternal Gut Microbiome to Infant Eczema Risk
2 articles · Updated · Nature.com · Aug 12
Summary
Researchers tracked 4,526 fecal samples from 714 Dutch mother-infant pairs and found the maternal gut microbiome could predict infant eczema, with taxonomic and pathway models reaching AUCs of 0.74 and 0.73.
The data showed the maternal gut was the main source of infant gut strains, while transmission from vaginal and breast-milk microbiomes was only occasional; shared strains were more likely when maternal species were more abundant.
Delivery mode and feeding mode were the strongest drivers of infant microbiome development and function through the first year, with vaginal birth and breastfeeding linked to greater mother-infant strain sharing.
Among 585 vaginal births, 155 occurred at home, but home delivery had only a modest association with infant gut composition compared with larger effects from cesarean delivery, feeding, and some maternal exposures such as smoking and infections.
Could boosting a mother's gut health during pregnancy be the ultimate secret to preventing infant eczema?
If an infant's microbiome catches up after a C-section, does it still permanently lack crucial immune functions?
Preventing Childhood Eczema: How Early Gut Microbiome Shaping and Maternal Interventions Cut Risk by Over 40%
Overview
The 2026 Dutch Lifelines NEXT study reveals that the early-life gut microbiome in infants is not strictly determined by the mother's microbiome, but instead develops in a dynamic and individualized way. Low microbial diversity in the infant gut during the first weeks of life can disrupt immune development, increasing the risk of eczema. In contrast, abundant colonization by Bifidobacterium species, especially B. longum and B. breve, helps produce protective metabolites that activate immune pathways to reduce inflammation and eczema risk. Maternal probiotic supplementation before and after birth can further support healthy immune maturation in infants, dramatically lowering the chance of developing eczema. However, disruptions in the gut microbiome—such as overgrowth of harmful bacteria—can lead to leaky gut, systemic inflammation, and weakened skin barriers, driving the development of eczema and related allergic diseases.