Maternal Diet Influences Human Milk Protein Concentration and Adipose Tissue Marker

Abstract

(1) Background: Adequate protein intake plays an essential role in growth and neurodevelopment, especially in preterm infants. We investigated the effects of maternal diet and body mass index (BMI) on human milk (HM) composition. (2) Methods: HM samples were obtained from 136 lactating mothers (BMI: 18.0–36.7 kg/m2), of which 93% gave birth to preterm infants. Macronutrient content in HM was measured by mid-infrared transmission spectroscopy. Leptin and adiponectin were analyzed using appropriate ELISAs. Maternal diet was determined by 24-h recall. (3) Results: Significant positive associations were found between protein, fat, carbohydrate and energy intake, and levels of corresponding macronutrients in HM, especially in protein concentrations (p < 0.001). An increased protein intake was positively correlated with adiponectin (p < 0.001) and leptin (p = 0.035) in HM. Maternal BMI was positively associated with a higher protein level in HM (p < 0.05), as well as with a higher dietary protein intake (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Knowledge of maternal diet and BMI impacting HM composition is essential to optimize the feeding of newborn infants. This is especially relevant in the nutritional management of preterm infants; it can be utilized in approaches to improve growth rates and the appropriate development of infants and to prevent obesity.

Composition of breast milk from mothers of premature and full-term infants and its influence in Z-Scores for infant physical growth

“…Dietary protein intake impacts the protein content in breast milk [21][22][23]. Binder et al [7] reported that maternal diet is a major determinant of the quality of breast milk. Protein intake by the newborn is directly related to neurodevelopment [24], especially lactoferrin [25].…”

“…The composition of breast milk is not easily affected by race [6], while maternal diet is a major determinant of the quality of breast milk [7]. Nevertheless, due to different diets and physical conditions, the content, composition, and active constituents of fat in breast milk can be slightly different [6,8].…”

Protein and Immune Component Content of Donor Human Milk in Japan: Variation with Gestational and Postpartum Age

“…For these reasons, fat and carbohydrate concentrations were not evaluated in this study. Third, this was a cross-sectional study, and we did not collect information about several factors reported to influence protein, sIgA, and lactoferrin levels in human milk, including maternal diet, body mass index, circadian rhythm, methods of milk expression, and the volume of milk expressed [ 36 , 38 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. It will be necessary to investigate and standardize the effects of these factors on DHM composition in the future.…”

Importance of human milk for infants in the clinical setting: Updates and mechanistic links

“…Maternal diet is known to impact several HM micronutrients (eg, vitamin A, vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folate, iodine, and selenium), as well as fatty acids, whereas the relationship between diet and other macronutrients in HM is less clear. 37,80,81 A 2016 systematic review found that 17 of 36 included publications focused on the fatty acid composition of maternal HM. 82 However, only three studies included the same exposure and outcome variables (milk DHA and maternal fish consumption), and the results were variable.…”