A pregnant woman’s oral microbiome could provide crucial insights into her mental health, including stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a recent study suggests.

Researchers from Michigan State University, US, found significant variations in the diversity of saliva microbes among women with different mental health conditions. Women experiencing anxiety or depression exhibited high alpha diversity in their oral microbiomes, indicating a wide variety of microbial species. In contrast, those with PTSD showed high beta diversity, meaning their microbiomes significantly differed from women with minimal symptoms.

The findings highlight the potential of using saliva as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring mental health issues during pregnancy. Researchers hope this discovery will pave the way for targeted interventions to improve maternal mental health.