Abstract
Human breastmilk components, the microbiota and immune modulatory proteins have vital roles in infant gut and immune development. In a population of breastfeeding women (n = 78) of different ethnicities (Asian, Māori and Pacific Island, New Zealand European) and their infants living in the Manawatu–Wanganui region of New Zealand, we examined the microbiota and immune modulatory proteins in the breast milk, and the fecal microbiota of mothers and infants. Breast milk and fecal samples were collected over a one-week period during the six to eight weeks postpartum. Breast milk microbiota differed between the ethnic groups. However, these differences had no influence on the infant’s gut microbiota composition. Based on the body mass index (BMI) classifications, the mother’s breast milk and fecal microbiota compositions were similar between normal, overweight and obese individuals, and their infant’s fecal microbiota composition also did not differ. The relative abundance of bacteria belonging to the Bacteroidetes phylum was higher in feces of infants born through vaginal delivery. However, the bacterial abundance of this phylum in the mother’s breast milk or feces was similar between women who delivered vaginally or by cesarean section. Several immune modulatory proteins including cytokines, growth factors, and immunoglobulin differed between the BMI and ethnicity groups. Transforming growth factor beta 1 and 2 (TGFβ1, TGFβ2) were present in higher concentrations in the milk from overweight mothers compared to those of normal weight. The TGFβ1 and soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) concentrations were significantly higher in the breast milk from Māori and Pacific Island women compared with women from Asian and NZ European ethnicities. This study explores the relationship between ethnicity, body mass index, mode of baby delivery and the microbiota of infants and their mothers and their potential impact on infant health.
Highlights
The gut microbiota has a dynamic role in maintaining host health by preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria and maintaining mucosal immunity [1]
When the participants were categorized according to the mode of delivery, 14 were by cesarean and 63 by vaginal delivery for the bacterial analyses, whereas there were 14 by cesarean and 64 by vaginal delivery for the immune modulatory proteins
We found no significant differences in bacteria abundances in the breast milk or fecal samples of mothers and infants when the data were compared by ethnicity, body mass and method of infant delivery
Summary
The gut microbiota has a dynamic role in maintaining host health by preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria and maintaining mucosal immunity [1]. The initial microbial colonization of the infant gut may begin before birth [2], but is further established during the birth process and through various transmission routes from the mother and the environment [3,4]. One of the major determinants of infant gut microbiota composition initially is mode of birth, whereby babies delivered vaginally come into contact with the maternal bacteria through the maternal feces and birth canal, though other factors are important including birth environment, prematurity, hygiene, mother-infant contact and the method of infant feeding. The microbiomes in the mother’s breast milk and infant feces are closely related [8,9], emphasizing the route of transmission from mother’s milk to the infant gut. The mother’s breast milk is important in shaping the infant gut microbiome for better health outcomes later in life
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