Exploring potential causal relationships between gut microbiota, inflammatory factors, and postpartum depression: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent studies have suggested a potential correlation between ecological dysregulation of the gut microbiota (GM) and the onset and development of postpartum depression (PPD). In addition, inflammatory factors (IFs) have been reported to play an important role in the development of PPD. However, the causal connections among GM, IFs, and PPD remain to be understood.

Objective

This study sought to determine if genetically predicted GM and IFs exert a causal effect on PPD and to study whether IFs mediate the causal effect of GM on PPD.

Methods

Two-step and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, primarily employing the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, were conducted to evaluate the causal relationship between GM, IFs, and PPD, and to assess po

SUBMITTER: Li H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11834640 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature