Mother and Infant Body Mass Index, Breast Milk Leptin and Their Serum Leptin Values

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates correlations between mother and infant Body Mass Index (BMI), their serum leptin values and breast milk leptin concentration in early infancy. Subjects and Methods: We determined serum leptin values in 58 healthy infants and leptin values in their mothers’ breast milk, using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Infant and maternal anthropometrics were measured. Results: Median leptin concentration was 3.9 ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR): 2.75) in infant serum, 4.27 ng/mL (IQR: 5.62) in maternal serum and 0.89 ng/mL (IQR: 1.32) in breast milk. Median maternal BMI and weight were 24 kg/m2 (IQR: 4.41) and 64 kg (IQR: 15). Median infant BMI was 15.80 kg/cm2 (IQR: 4.02), while average weight was 5.130 kg (IQR: 1.627). Infants serum leptin values positively correlated with infants’ BMI (p = 0.001; r = 0.213) and breast milk leptin (p = 0.03; r = 0.285). Maternal serum leptin values positively correlated with maternal BMI (p = 0.000, r = 0.449) and breast milk leptin ones (p = 0.026; r = 0.322). Conclusion: Breast milk leptin and maternal BMI could influence infant serum leptin values. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the role of genetics and environment on infant leptin production and risk of obesity later in life.

Maternal blood pressure mediates the association between maternal obesity and infant weight gain in early postpartum

“…23,25 The same dietary and metabolic factors are detectable in breast milk and have been shown to influence infant obesity risk through breast milk exposure. [26][27][28][29] Findings from our prior works revealed that maternal consumption of a sugar-sweetened beverage during lactation increased breast milk fructose concentrations, 30 which were related to increased infant fat mass over 6 months. 26 We postulated that this was due to infant exposure to elevated triglycerides, which has been proposed in other studies.…”

“…The maternal obesity‐hypertension phenotype has been attributed to dietary (eg, high‐fat and high‐fructose consumption) and subsequent metabolic (eg, hyperleptinaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia) factors . The same dietary and metabolic factors are detectable in breast milk and have been shown to influence infant obesity risk through breast milk exposure . Findings from our prior works revealed that maternal consumption of a sugar‐sweetened beverage during lactation increased breast milk fructose concentrations, which were related to increased infant fat mass over 6 months .…”

“…26 We postulated that this was due to infant exposure to elevated triglycerides, which has been proposed in other studies. 25 Increased breast milk leptin concentrations have also been linked to early weight gain, 27 although findings are less conclusive. 28,29 Because infants in our study were predominantly breastfed, it may be that higher maternal weight status and BP were a reflection of dietary and metabolic factors that were transmitted to the infant via breast milk, resulting in greater infant weight gain.…”

Overnutrition in Infants Is Associated With High Level of Leptin, Viral Coinfection and Increased Severity of Respiratory Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Most of children <6 months (69%) were exclusive breastfeeding at the time of sampling. Savino et al (27) observed a positive association of breast milk leptin values not only with maternal body mass index but also with maternal and infant serum leptin values. On the other hand, it has been described that infants have an increased risk of obesity later in life if they have an overweight or obese mother (28) which can be reduced with the use of lowprotein feedings after 3 months (29).…”

Associations between Maternal Body Composition and Appetite Hormones and Macronutrients in Human Milk

“…Leptin is also contributed by lactocytes [19,20]. Previous studies have identified a positive correlation between maternal body mass index (BMI) and both maternal serum [21,22] and skim HM leptin [21,22,23,24], despite differing methodologies in leptin measurement [25]. However, no consistent relationship between maternal adiposity and HM leptin concentrations has been shown across lactation, with Miralles et al (2006) reporting only moderate correlations between maternal BMI and HM leptin during the first 6 months of lactation ( R = 0.387; p < 0.01) [8], while Bronsky et al (2011) saw no consistent relationship over the first 12 months of lactation [11], despite utilizing a similar leptin measurement methodology.…”