Associations between human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and eating behaviour in Hispanic infants at 1 and 6 months of age

Abstract

Summary Background Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are naturally occurring glycans in human breast milk that act as prebiotics in the infant gut. Prebiotics have been demonstrated to suppress appetite in both adults and children. Therefore, HMOs may affect infant eating behaviour. Objective To determine if HMOs in breast milk are associated with eating behaviour in Hispanic infants. Methods Cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective cohort of Hispanic mother‐infant dyads (1‐month, n = 157; 6‐months, n = 69). Breast milk samples were screened for 19 HMOs using high pressure liquid chromatography, and eating behaviour was assessed using the Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (BEBQ). We conducted multiple linear regressions to examine associations between HMOs and BEBQ scores, adjusted for maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI, infant sex, birthweight, delivery mode and number of breastfeedings per day. We stratified by HMO secretor status—a genetic determinant of the types of HMOs produced. Results At 1 month, LNnT (lacto‐N‐neotetraose; P = .04) was negatively associated with food responsiveness in the total sample, while DFLNT (difucosyllacto‐N‐tetrose; P = .03) and DSLNT (disialyl‐LNT; P = .04) were negatively associated with food responsiveness in secretors only. At 6 months, LSTc (sialyllacto‐N‐tetraose c; P = .01), FLNH (fucosyllacto‐N‐hexaose; P = .03), LNH (lacto‐N‐hexaose; P = .006) and DSLNH (disialyllacto‐N‐hexaose; P = .05) were positively associated with food responsiveness in both the total sample and secretors only. Conclusions We found several HMOs that were both positively and negatively associated with infant food responsiveness, which is a measure of drive to eat.

Learning to overeat in infancy: Concurrent and prospective relationships between maternal BMI, feeding practices and child eating response among Hispanic mothers and children

“…Contrary to our hypothesis, there were no associations between restrictive or responsive feeding practices and infant satiety responsiveness. The performance and internal reliability of the satiety responsiveness subscale of the BEBQ and CEBQ have been called into question by some investigators, [45][46][47] and the performance of this subscale may be particularly poor for certain racial/ethnic groups, such as Hispanics. 46 Indeed, the BEBQ and CEBQ satiety responsiveness subscales showed poor internal reliability in our sample (Cronbach's α = 0.41 and Cronbach's α = 0.52, respectively; Table S1), which may account, at least in part, for the lack of an observed relationship between maternal feeding practices and satiety responsiveness in our study and others.…”

Biology of human milk oligosaccharides: From basic science to clinical evidence

“…Another hypothesis, proposed recently, is that HMOs affect food‐responsiveness and appetite through a microbiome driven process that affects the entero‐endocrine system or central nervous system. Indeed, specific HMOs were recently shown to be both positively and negatively associated with food‐responsiveness 108 . However, a consistent picture explaining associations between HMOs and anthropometric findings has not yet emerged.…”

“…Indeed, specific HMOs were recently shown to be both positively and negatively associated with food‐responsiveness. 108 However, a consistent picture explaining associations between HMOs and anthropometric findings has not yet emerged.…”

Obesogenic Programming Effects during Lactation: A Narrative Review and Conceptual Model Focusing on Underlying Mechanisms and Promising Future Research Avenues

“…Though speculating, leptin might play a role in later accelerated increases in child weight outcomes through leptin resistance, reinforcing "reward eating" beyond caloric requirements [17]. To conclude, human milk composition may play a pathogenic role in mother-to-child transmission of obesity through child eating and satiety characteristics [18]. However, mediation by child gut microbiota and flavor exposure may also play a role (see Figure 1).…”