Abstract
Background: Differing environmental conditions experienced by mother-infant dyads may influence composition of the milk received by the infant. As a consequence, diverse milk compositional profiles may contribute to different postnatal outcomes, especially in infants facing adverse perinatal environments. We investigated whether variability in milk concentrations of key metabolic hormones is associated with different growth outcomes in infants born preterm, a perinatal complication known to impact on infant growth.Methods: Human milk samples were collected from 169 mothers of 191 infants enrolled in the DIAMOND trial, a randomized trial of nutrition for moderate-late preterm infants, at 5 and 10 days postpartum and again at 4 months' corrected age and analyzed for leptin, adiponectin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. Infant weight and body composition were measured at birth, discharge and 4 months' corrected age. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine correlations between milk hormone concentrations, weight z-scores and body composition at discharge and 4 months' corrected age, and weight gain from birth to 4 months' corrected age. Sex-specific interactions were examined.Results: Higher milk IGF-1 concentrations on day 5 after birth were associated with greater infant fat-free mass at 4 months' corrected age. Milk IGF-1 concentrations at 4 months were positively associated with fat mass and fat-free mass at 4 months in boys but not girls. Milk leptin concentrations on day 5 after birth were positively associated with fat mass at discharge from hospital, but negatively associated with fat mass at 4 months' corrected age. No significant association was found for milk adiponectin concentrations.Conclusion: Milk IGF-1 and leptin concentrations in mothers of moderate-late preterm babies are associated with different growth and body composition through to 4 months' corrected age and these associations are often different in boys and girls. The sex-specific effects of nutrient and hormone exposure during early life in preterm infants warrants further investigation to optimize the nutritional care these infants receive, particularly in hospital, where the same nutrition is provided to boys and girls.
Highlights
An increasing body of research has highlighted that the differential compositional nature of human milk (HM) reflects a complex interplay between maternal and infant characteristics as well as that of the surrounding environment [1,2,3,4,5]
High protein in maternal own milk (MOM) were considered a proxy for higher formula milk at discharge [13] so we adjusted this model for the type of milk received by the infant at discharge but this did not alter our finding
Associations with MOM adiponectin and infant fat mass were found (p < 0.05) but were no longer statistically significant when the model was corrected for maternal GDM (Table 2), which was a strong predictor of infant fat mass
Summary
An increasing body of research has highlighted that the differential compositional nature of human milk (HM) reflects a complex interplay between maternal and infant characteristics as well as that of the surrounding environment [1,2,3,4,5]. Independent of the associations between maternal phenotypic variability and HM composition, each mother-infant dyad is exposed to a different environment and experiences different burdens (e.g., socioeconomic adversities, poor nutrition, lack of support within the family, and/or the work environment). Such environmental burdens may contribute, in part, to the selective pressure that determines what kind of subconscious biological compromises (i.e., trade-offs) each mother makes in order to balance their health and well-being with that of their infant. We investigated whether variability in milk concentrations of key metabolic hormones is associated with different growth outcomes in infants born preterm, a perinatal complication known to impact on infant growth
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
