Research progress in the relationship between gut microbia and its metabolites and gestational diabetes mellitus

The global incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) continues to rise in recent years. Research has shown that GDM can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women and lead to malignant intergenerational circulation. The etiology of GDM is complex and the pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Maternal dietary assessment and guidance is the first-line method for managing GDM in clinical practice. Reasonable diet plays an important role in gut microbia and its metabolites during pregnancy, and the dysfunction of gut microbia is closely related to the occurrence of metabolic diseases. It has been shown that gut microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and bile acids are strongly influenced by diet and play an important role in metabolic disorders related to insulin resistance (such as GDM). Progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases by improving gut microbia through medical nutrition therapy, which provides a new direction for the control of GDM. The status quo of GDM, the characteristics and alteration of gut microbia in pregnant women with GDM, the GDM-related gut microbial metabolites, and the feasible prevention and treatment of GDM by targeting gut microbia and its metabolites are reviewed.