Nutritional and immunological factors in breast milk: A role in the intergenerational transmission from maternal psychopathology to child development

Abstract

Perinatal psychopathologies affect more than 25% of women during and after their gestational period. These psychiatric disorders determine important biological variations in their organisms, affecting many different physiological and metabolic pathways. Of relevance, any of these changes occurring in the mother can alter the normal composition of breast milk, particularly the concentration of nutritional and inflammatory components, which play a role in child brain functioning and development. Indeed, there is evidence showing that changes in milk composition can contribute to cognitive impairments and alterations in mental abilities in children. This review aims to shed light on the unique intergenerational role played by breast milk composition, from maternal psychopathologies to child development.

The Triad Mother-Breast Milk-Infant as Predictor of Future Health: A Narrative Review

“…Marita de Waard et al carried on a systematic review with the aim of exploring the correlation between maternal diet during lactation and infants' long-term health outcome [35] and discovered that ten different studies focused on the relationship between maternal supplementation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) and infant growth or later body composition, without evidence of secure and consistent short or long-term positive associations [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. FA composition of breast milk varies based on different factors such as lactation stage, gestational age, maternal nutritional status, and maternal lipid storage, which is the main source of omega-6 [21].…”

Maternal Health and Nutrition Status, Human Milk Composition, and Growth and Development of Infants and Children: A Prospective Japanese Human Milk Study Protocol

“…For example, a study of 74 human milk samples reported that vitamin B-12 in human milk is independent of the maternal diet pattern [28]. Another study suggested that the nutritional and immune components of human milk are in fact influenced by maternal psychological status [29]. The milk components evaluated in these studies include oligosaccharides, bioactive proteins such as antibodies and cytokines, and nonprotein nitrogen, such as nucleic acid compounds.…”

Presence of Ebola virus in breast milk and risk of mother‐to‐child transmission: synthesis of evidence

“…Breast milk is the first feeding of choice for infants not only for its nutritional value and protective roles but also for the overall health benefits for both mother and child 68–71 . However, the transmission of infectious pathogens through breast milk has been documented in the literature and, in the cases of cytomegalovirus, human T‐lymphotropic virus I (HTLV‐I), or HIV‐infected mothers, breastfeeding is linked to viral transmission 72–74 .…”

“…Principal findings Breast milk is the first feeding of choice for infants not only for its nutritional value and protective roles but also for the overall health benefits for both mother and child. [68][69][70][71] However, the transmission of infectious pathogens through breast milk has been documented in the literature and, in the cases of cytomegalovirus, human T-lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I), or HIV-infected mothers, breastfeeding is linked to viral transmission. [72][73][74] To safeguard the health of the child, and whenever feasible alternatives to breast milk are available, avoidance of breastfeeding practices is recommended as a control and management of vertical transmission.…”