Sexually Dimorphic Associations between Maternal Factors and Human Milk Hormonal Concentrations

While human milk composition is characterised by marked dynamicity, we are far from having a clear picture of what factors drive this variation. Hormones in human milk are known to vary according to specific maternal phenotypes, but limited evidence shows the infant also has a role in determining milk composition. The present study aimed to investigate the interplay between maternal and infant characteristics in relation to human milk hormonal profile. In total, 501 human milk samples from mothers recruited in the Finnish STEPS cohort study (Steps to the healthy development) were analysed. Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy maternal data, socioeconomic status and infant characteristics at birth were collated. Leptin, adiponectin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and cyclic Glycine-Proline in milk were measured. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and linear regression were utilised for statistical analysis. Sex-specific interactions with maternal factors were observed, as the infant sex mediated associations between gestational diabetes and milk adiponectin (p = 0.031), birth-mode and total protein (p = 0.003), maternal education and insulin-like growth factor-1: cyclic Glycine-Proline ratio (p = 0.035). Our results suggest that changes in human milk composition are associated with interactions between maternal and infant characteristics and pathophysiological factors. Future work should expand on these findings and further explore the link between hormonal profiles in human milk and infant outcomes.

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Breast Milk Macronutrient Components in Prolonged Lactation

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10121893 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1893 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Matylda Czosnykowska-Łukacka ◽

Barbara Królak-Olejnik ◽

Magdalena Orczyk-Pawiłowicz

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Human Milk ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Infant Nutrition ◽

Early Stage ◽

Dietary Exposure ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Limited Data ◽

Older Children ◽

Healthy Development

Human milk (HM) is the first dietary exposure in infancy and the best nutritional option for growth and healthy development of the newborn and infant. The concentrations of macronutrients, namely proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, change during lactation stages. HM has been studied extensively in the first 6 months of lactation, but there are limited data regarding milk composition beyond 1 or 2 years postpartum. The aim of our study was to describe longitudinal changes in HM macronutrient concentrations during the prolonged lactation of healthy mothers from the 1st to the 48th month. For the macronutrient content of milk of mothers breastfeeding for longer than 18 months, fat and protein increased and carbohydrates decreased significantly, compared with milk expressed by women breastfeeding up to 12 months. Moreover, the concentration of fat, protein and carbohydrates in HM over 2 years of lactation from the 24th to the 48th month remained at a stable level. However, analyzed macronutrients were positively (carbohydrate, r = 0.51) or negatively (fat, r = −0.36 and protein, r = −0.58) correlated with the amount of feeding. Our results create a greater potential for understanding the nutritional contribution of HM over 2 years of lactation and showed that the source of calories in breast milk for older children is mainly fat, while carbohydrates play a greater role in infant nutrition in the early stage. The observed changes of macronutrient concentrations from the 1st to the 48th month of lactation are probably related to the adaptation of milk composition to the increased energy demand of the intensively growing child.

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Levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Full- and Preterm Human Milk in Comparison to Levels in Cow’s Milk and in Milk Formulas

Neonatology ◽

10.1159/000243289 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 343-346 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Kanji Nagashima ◽

Ken Itoh ◽

Takayosi Kuroume

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Human Milk ◽

Cow’S Milk ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽

Cow's Milk ◽

Factor I ◽

Growth Factor I

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Effect of Early Expressed Human Milk on Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Short-Term Outcomes in Preterm Infants

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0168139 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e0168139 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Francesca Serrao ◽

Patrizia Papacci ◽

Simonetta Costa ◽

Carmen Giannantonio ◽

Francesco Cota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Human Milk ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽

Short Term

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Mammary Specific Transgenic Over-expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) Increases Pig Milk IGF-I and IGF Binding Proteins, with no Effect on Milk Composition or Yield

Transgenic Research ◽

10.1007/s11248-005-7219-8 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 761-773 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Marcia H. Monaco ◽

Derek E. Gronlund ◽

Gregory T. Bleck ◽

Walter L. Hurley ◽

Matthew B. Wheeler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Binding Proteins ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽

Igf Binding Proteins ◽

Over Expression ◽

Factor I ◽

Igf I ◽

Igf Binding ◽

Growth Factor I

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The Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Content in Human Milk Increases Between Early and Full Lactation*

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jcem-67-1-25 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 25-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

A. N. CORPS ◽

K. D. BROWN ◽

L. H. REES ◽

J. CARR ◽

C. G. PROSSER

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Human Milk ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽

Factor I ◽

Growth Factor I

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Impact of Infant and Maternal Factors on Energy and Macronutrient Composition of Human Milk

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092591 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2591

Author(s):

Agnieszka Bzikowska-Jura ◽

Piotr Sobieraj ◽

Dorota Szostak-Węgierek ◽

Aleksandra Wesołowska

Keyword(s):

Human Milk ◽

Energy Content ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Total Protein Content ◽

Maternal Factors ◽

Macronutrient Composition ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Before And After ◽

In Pregnancy

The present study investigates the influence of selected infant and maternal factors on the energy and macronutrient composition of mature human milk (HM). The study enrolled 77 mothers at 4–8 weeks postpartum. Each mother provided 1 sample of HM. Each extracted HM sample was formed by mixing four subsamples of HM, each of which were obtained in one predefined 6-h periods of the day. Among maternal factors, the analysis included: anthropometric data before and after pregnancy; weight gain in pregnancy; body composition, assessed using the Maltron BioScan 920-II to analyze bioimpedance; and dietary intake, assessed with three-day dietary records. Among the neonatal factors, birth weight and length, number of daily feedings and type of delivery were included. The composition of HM, including energy content, protein, fat and carbohydrate concentrations, was analyzed using the Miris human milk analyzer. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between the selected maternal and infant factors and HM milk composition. It was found that total protein content of HM was correlated with pre-pregnancy BMI (Spearman rho = 0.238; p = 0.037), current lean body mass (Spearman rho = −0.293, p = 0.01) and total water content (Spearman rho = −0.315, p = 0.005). Carbohydrates were the only macronutrients whose composition was significantly affected by the infant factors. It was reported that higher carbohydrate content was associated with male sex (OR = 4.52, p = 0.049). Our results show that maternal and infant factors, especially maternal pre-pregnancy and current nutritional status and infant sex, interact and affect HM composition, suggesting that macronutrient and energy content in HM may be determined in pregnancy and may have unique compositional profile for every mother–infant dyad.

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