Mercury and Gut Microbiota

There are few studies that have characterized maternal gut microbiota and fetal methylmercury exposure, yet microbes likely modulate this relationship. The primary objective of our pilot study was to determine associations between gut microbial taxa and mercury concentrations in multiple biomarkers (stool, hair, and cord blood). Our secondary objective was to determine the contribution of gut microbial mercury methylation to stool methylmercury.]]>
Inclusion criteria: Pregnant women who were 36-39 weeks gestation, at least 18 years of age, and in good general health. No additional exclusion criteria.]]>
Between November-December 2013, pregnant women were recruited at Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina, who met the eligibility criteria. After providing informed consent, mothers donated a hair sample and a stool sample (collected at home), and cord blood was collected at parturition from a subset of mothers.]]>