Human Milk Adiponectin and Leptin and Infant Body Composition over the First 12 Months of Lactation

Abstract

Human milk (HM) adipokines may influence infant feeding patterns, appetite regulation, and body composition (BC). The associations between concentrations/calculated daily intakes (CDI) of HM adipokines in the first 12 months postpartum and maternal/term infant BC, and infant breastfeeding parameters were investigated. BC of breastfeeding dyads (n = 20) was measured at 2, 5, 9, and/or 12 months postpartum with ultrasound skinfolds (infants) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (infants/mothers). 24-h milk intake and feeding frequency were measured along with whole milk adiponectin and skim and whole milk leptin (SML and WML) and CDI were calculated. Statistical analysis used linear regression/mixed effects models; results were adjusted for multiple comparisons. Adipokine concentrations did not associate with infant BC. Higher CDI of adiponectin were associated with lower infant fat-free mass (FFM; p = 0.005) and FFM index (FFMI; p = 0.009) and higher fat mass (FM; p < 0.001), FM index (FMI; p < 0.001), and %FM (p < 0.001). Higher CDI of SML were associated with higher infant FM (p < 0.001), FMI (p < 0.001), and %FM (p = 0.002). At 12 months, higher CDI of WML were associated with larger increases in infant adiposity (2–12 month: FM, p = 0.0006; %FM, p = 0.0004); higher CDI of SML were associated with a larger decrease in FFMI (5–12 months: p = 0.0004). Intakes of HM adipokines differentially influence development of infant BC in the first year of life, which is a critical window of infant programming and may potentially influence risk of later disease via modulation of BC.

<p>The Body Composition in Early Pregnancy is Associated with the Risk of Development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Late During the Second Trimester</p>

“…Methods such as bioelectrical impedance analysis for the assessment of fat mass and fat-free mass in pregnant women in the body composition studies have been described. [30][31][32][33][34][35] Our study establishes that BIA is a feasible and reproducible method that can be used during pregnancy. We found pregnant women with FMP over 28% had a higher risk of developing GDM than women with normal FMP (adjusted OR 1.572, 95% CI 1.104-2.240).…”

Growth Factor Concentrations in Human Milk Are Associated With Infant Weight and BMI From Birth to 5 Years

“…It is well-established that HM consumption is associated with lower risk of longer-term morbidities, including obesity (1,2) and metabolic syndrome (3), which constitute major public health issues worldwide (4). As the concept of nutritional programming during "the first 1,000 days of life" is gaining recognition (5,6), HM-borne hormones that regulate metabolic function are seen as potential programming factors (7)(8)(9). Evidence from animal models suggests that HM leptin (10) influences infant eating behavior and body composition (11) and may underpin the protective effects of breastfeeding against obesity (12).…”

Difference between body composition of formula- and breastfed infants at birth

“…An alternative theory proposes that breastfeeding alters infant appetite, possibly through the action of leptin, which directly affects satiety, and is present in breastmilk but not infant formula. 2 It remains difficult to tease out the true effect of breastfeeding due to the significant confounding effects of maternal socio-economic status, maternal education, and other health, exercise, and nutritional habits. 3,4 Although these confounding effects are often examined for their role on the post-natal environment of the infant, no previous studies have examined their pre-natal effect on the intra-uterine growth of the infant.…”