Overview

• Researchers collected fecal samples from 61 pregnant women at 11–13 weeks and performed 16S rRNA sequencing to profile first-trimester gut microbiota.
• Women who later developed gestational diabetes exhibited higher levels of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria alongside reduced Bacteroidota, with genus-level increases in Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella and decreases in Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium.
• A predictive model built on these genus-level microbial markers achieved an area under the receiver operating curve of 98.23% for early identification of gestational diabetes.
• Early noninvasive screening could support preemptive dietary, lifestyle or therapeutic interventions to lower maternal complications and improve fetal health outcomes.
• The research team plans to validate the model in larger cohorts and incorporate fecal metabolomics and plasma proteomics to refine early-warning and personalized management strategies.