Human Milk Oligosaccharides and Bacterial Profile Modulate Infant Body Composition during Exclusive Breastfeeding.

Donna T. Geddes,Ching T. Lai,Zoya Gridneva,Ali S. Cheema,Matthew S. Payne,Berwin A. Turlach,Annalee J. Furst,Lars Bode,Michelle L. Trevenen,Ana S. Roman,Lisa F. Stinson

doi:10.3390/ijms23052865

Abstract

Human milk is a complex and variable ecosystem fundamental to the development of newborns. This study aimed to investigate relationships between human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) and human milk bacterial profiles and infant body composition. Human milk samples (n = 60) were collected at two months postpartum. Infant and maternal body composition was measured with bioimpedance spectroscopy. Human milk bacterial profiles were assessed using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and 19 HMOs were quantitated using high-performance liquid chromatography. Relative abundance of human milk bacterial taxa were significantly associated with concentrations of several fucosylated and sialylated HMOs. Individual human milk bacteria and HMO intakes and concentrations were also significantly associated with infant anthropometry, fat-free mass, and adiposity. Furthermore, when data were stratified based on maternal secretor status, some of these relationships differed significantly among infants born to secretor vs non-secretor mothers. In conclusion, in this pilot study the human milk bacterial profile and HMO intakes and concentrations were significantly associated with infant body composition, with associations modified by secretor status. Future research designed to increase the understanding of the mechanisms by which HMO and human milk bacteria modulate infant body composition should include intakes in addition to concentrations.

Highlights

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life delivers a plethora of shortand long-term health benefits [1,2]
It remains to be seen whether changes in maternal body composition during lactation modulate concentrations of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) and should be studied in a longitudinal manner to account for the stage of lactation
Our study indicates that individual HMO concentrations may influence human milk bacterial profiles during the exclusive breastfeeding period

Summary

Introduction

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life delivers a plethora of shortand long-term health benefits [1,2]. The microbial and bioactive constituents of human milk may influence the development of infant body composition [6–8], which in the early months postpartum is known to play a significant role in the programming of health later in life [9,10]. Studies investigating associations between HMOs and maternal adiposity have reported conflicting results, showing both positive and negative correlations between maternal adiposity and individual/total HMO concentrations [15–19], or in contrast no associations [13,20] These previous studies have used weight and body mass index (BMI) as a proxy measure for adiposity despite BMI being an unreliable measurement of body composition [21]. Such divergent results highlight the need to further examine the influence of maternal characteristics and body composition on HMO profiles

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Conclusion