Summary on Clinical Aspects of Human Milk on Infant Health Outcomes

Free amino acids (FAAs) are important regulators of key pathways necessary for growth, development, and immunity. Data on FAAs in human milk (HM) and their roles in infant development are limited. We investigated the levels of FAAs and total amino acids (TAA, i.e., the sum of conjugated amino acids and FAAs) in HM in relation to infant and maternal characteristics and immunological conditions. FAA and TAA levels in HM sampled at 6 weeks (n = 671) and 6 months (n = 441) of lactation were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Child growth was ascertained at 4–5 weeks and at 6–7 months of age. Child allergy and lower respiratory tract infections were assessed in the first years of life. Associations of amino acid (AA) levels in HM with child growth and health outcomes were determined by Spearman correlation and modified Poisson regression, respectively. Free glutamine, glutamate, and serine in 6-week HM positively correlated with infant weight gain in the first 4–5 weeks of age. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI) were negatively correlated with free glutamine and asparagine in 6-week and 6-month HM and positively correlated with the sum of TAAs in 6-month HM, but significance was lost following confounder adjustment. Free glutamine was lower in 6-month HM of mothers with an allergy (either active or non-active). No consistent associations were found between FAAs in HM and child health outcomes. However, potential negative associations were observed between specific FAAs and the risk of food allergy. These results suggest that specific FAAs play a role in infant growth. Moreover, these findings warrant further investigations into the relation of FAAs in HM with infant health outcomes and maternal allergy.

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Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis of Gestationally Matched Human and Bovine Milk Samples at 2-Weeks Postnatal

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_097 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1025-1025

Author(s):

Dominick Lemas ◽

Xinsong Du ◽

Bethany Dado-Senn ◽

Marina Magalhães ◽

Larissa Iapicca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Human Milk ◽

Infant Health ◽

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽

Bovine Milk ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Untargeted Metabolomics ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Metabolomic Analysis ◽

Milk Samples

Abstract Objectives Human breast milk is the ideal nutrition source for infant development during the first year of life. Epidemiological data demonstrates that bovine whole milk is often substituted for human milk during the first 12-months of life and may be associated with adverse infant outcomes. The goal of this project is to interrogate the human and bovine milk metabolome at 2-weeks postnatal to identify unique and overlapping metabolites that may impact infant health outcomes. Methods Human milk (n = 10) was collected at 2-weeks postpartum from normal weight mothers (pre-pregnant BMI <25 kg/m2) that vaginally delivered term infants and planned to exclusively breastfeed for at least 2-months. Similarly, bovine milk (n = 10) was collected 2-weeks postpartum from normal weight primiparous Holstein dairy cows. Dairy cattle were housed in sand-bedded, shaded barns with access to fans and water soakers and fed a common transition cow total mixed ration. Untargeted metabolomics was completed on all milk samples using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Metabolomic analysis was implemented using an open-source containerized metabolomics pipeline. Data processing was completed using MZmine, mummichog and Python were used for statistical analysis. Results We detected 716 metabolomic features in human and bovine milk samples after quality control. Our analysis also revealed that 43% (312) of metabolomics features were present in both human and bovine milk, 23% (167) of metabolomics features were unique to human milk and 33% (237) of metabolomics features existed only in bovine milk samples. Pathway analysis revealed that sialic acid and glycosphingolipid metabolism (P < 0.0009) were common to human and bovine milk samples. We also found that amino acid (tryptophan, tyrosine, purine) metabolism (P < 0.005) was unique to bovine samples and vitamin B3 pathways (P = 0.03) was unique to human samples. Conclusions Our analysis revealed a core milk metabolome shared between human and bovine samples. Collectively, these results highlight untargeted metabolomics as a potential strategy to identify unique and overlapping metabolites in bovine and human milk that may impact infant health outcomes. Funding Sources Research was supported by NIDDK/K01; SECIM P&F; CTSI Pilot Award; Robin Hood Foundation; NIH Loan Repayment Program.

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More Than Shelter: Housing for Urban Maternal and Infant Health

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073331 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3331

Author(s):

Jason Reece

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Maternal Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

City Planning ◽

Infant Health ◽

The United States ◽

Housing Quality ◽

Housing Discrimination ◽

Maternal Health Outcomes ◽

The Impact

Housing quality, stability, and affordability have a direct relationship to socioemotional and physical health. Both city planning and public health have long recognized the role of housing in health, but the complexity of this relationship in regard to infant and maternal health is less understood. Focusing on literature specifically relevant to U.S. metropolitan areas, I conduct a multidisciplinary literature review to understand the influence of housing factors and interventions that impact infant and maternal health. The paper seeks to achieve three primary goals. First, to identify the primary “pathways” by which housing influences infant and maternal health. Second, the review focuses on the role and influence of historical housing discrimination on maternal health outcomes. Third, the review identifies emergent practice-based housing interventions in planning and public health practice to support infant and maternal health. The literature suggests that the impact of housing on infant health is complex, multifaceted, and intergenerational. Historical housing discrimination also directly impacts contemporary infant and maternal health outcomes. Policy interventions to support infant health through housing are just emerging but demonstrate promising outcomes. Structural barriers to housing affordability in the United States will require new resources to foster greater collaboration between the housing and the health sectors.

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Differences in the Concentration and Composition of Human Milk Components Are Related to Variation in Milk and Infant Fecal Microbiomes

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_128 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1056-1056

Author(s):

Ryan Pace ◽

Janet Williams ◽

Kimberly Lackey ◽

Mark McGuire ◽

Michelle McGuire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Milk ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Infant Health ◽

Hypervariable Region ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Infant Feces ◽

Microbe Interactions ◽

Foundation Award

Abstract Objectives Profiles of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) and milk/infant fecal microbiota vary globally. However, associations between and among HMO, other milk-borne factors (e.g., lactose, protein), and milk/infant fecal microbiomes have not been well-investigated. Here we tested the hypothesis that variations in milk lactose, protein, and HMO concentrations are associated with variations in the structure of milk and infant fecal microbial communities. Methods Milk/infant fecal samples from 357 maternal-infant dyads collected as part of the INSPIRE study from 11 geographically/culturally diverse sites located in eight countries (Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Peru, Spain, Sweden, and USA) were analyzed. DNA was extracted and bacterial 16S rRNA V1V3 hypervariable region amplified/sequenced for microbiome analysis. HMO, lactose, and protein profiles were generated from HPLC and spectrophotometric assays. Results Milk and infant feces share many of the same abundant bacterial genera, while also containing unique bacterial communities. Community states type (CST) analyses indicate both sample types group into a relatively small number of discrete communities characterized by enrichment of specific taxa (e.g., Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium). Concentrations of milk lactose and protein varied by population/CST. Additionally, variation in the microbial community structure of milk and infant feces was associated with concentrations of total/individual HMO, lactose, and protein. Conclusions Similar to HMO concentrations, milk lactose and protein vary globally. Variations in milk and infant fecal microbial communities are associated with those of milk lactose, protein, and HMO concentrations. Given these results, as well as prior data on the influence of other environmental variables (e.g., pumped vs. direct breastfeeding), additional longitudinal studies are needed to better understand this complex network of maternal-infant-microbe interactions with respect to environmental factors and how differences impact postnatal maternal-infant health. Funding Sources National Science Foundation (award 1,344,288), National Institutes of Health (R01 HD092297), and USDA.

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