Expression profiles of hsa-miR-148a-3p and hsa-miR-125b-5p in human breast milk and infant formulae

Background Milk-derived microRNAs (miRNAs), including hsa-miR-148a-3p (miR-148a) and hsa-miR-125b-5p (miR-125b), have been shown to be beneficial to the gastrointestinal function in infants. Here, we investigated their expression during lactation in humans and determined whether the infant formulae available in Japan contain these miRNAs. Methods Healthy Japanese women (n = 16) who gave birth vaginally or by cesarean section at the Teine Keijinkai Hospital between 1 September 2020, and 31 April 2021 were included in this study. Breast milk was collected by nurses on days 4 or 5 after delivery (hereinafter, transition milk) and on day 30 of postpartum (hereinafter, mature milk). The levels of miR-148a and miR-125b in breastmilk and six commercially available infant formulae were compared and evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results In all participants, the miR-148a level in mature breastmilk was significantly lower than that in the transition milk. The changes in miR-125b expression during lactation showed similar trends to the changes in miR-148a expression. The miR-148a and miR-125b levels in all analyzed infant formulae were lower than 1/500th and 1/100th of those in mature breastmilk, respectively. Conclusions The levels of both miR-148a and miR-125b in human breast milk decreased on day 30 postpartum compared with those in the transition milk. Additionally, the expression of these miRNAs in infant formulae available in Japan was very low. Further studies with larger populations are required to understand precisely the lactational changes in the expression of miR148a and miR-125b in breast milk.

Comparative Analysis of Triglycerides From Different Regions and Mature Lactation Periods in Chinese Human Milk Project (CHMP) Study

The kinds and proportions of triglycerides of human mature milk play an independent role in the growth of infants. In this study, the human milk samples obtained from eight different Chinese cities (Chengdu, Weihai, Lanzhou, Jinhua, Beijing, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Harbin) and six sequential mature lactation times (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days) were detected for the triglycerides. The result demonstrated that total 66 triglycerides were detected in mature human milk, with acyl carbon number (ACN) numbers were locating in the range of 34–54 and double bond (DB) numbers were locating in the range of 0–6. In addition, the percentage of OPO, OPL, and OOO was relatively higher than others, accounted for more than 4% of total triglycerides in all the lactation areas and times, and the percentage of U2S and LLL triglycerides was also richest in mature milk. Furthermore, it was obvious that lactation regions had more significant effect on the triglycerides compared with lactation time and the triacylglycerols (TAGs) of human milk in Guangzhou were clearly different from that in other regions. Therefore, the results of this study will provide data reference for the design of infant formula suitable for Chinese babies.

Milking it for all it's worth: The effects of environmental enrichment on maternal nurturance, lactation quality, and offspring social behavior

While alterations in the neonatal environment can have dramatic effects on offspring outcomes, the mechanisms that drive this phenomenon remain unclear. Breastfeeding confers robust benefits to offspring development, including those related to growth, immunity, and neurophysiology. Similarly, improving environmental complexity (i.e., environmental enrichment; EE) contributes developmental advantages to both humans and laboratory animal models. However, the impact of environmental context on maternal care and milk quality has not been thoroughly evaluated, nor are the biological underpinnings of EE on offspring development understood. Here, Sprague-Dawley rats were housed and bred in either EE or standard-housed (SD) conditions. Although EE dams gave birth to a larger number of pups, litters were standardized and cross-fostered across groups on postnatal day (P)1. Maternal milk samples were then collected on P1 (transitional milk phase) and P10 (mature milk phase) for analysis. While EE dams spent less time nursing, postnatal enrichment exposure was associated with heavier offspring bodyweights. Moreover, milk from EE dams had increased triglyceride levels compared to SD dams. Milk from EE mothers also contained a greater microbiome diversity and a significantly higher abundance of bacterial families related to bodyweight and energy metabolism. In addition to changes in lactational quality, we observed sex- and time-dependent effects of EE on offspring social behavior. Specifically, prenatal EE exposure was associated with greater sociability in females, while postnatal EE was associated with greater sociability in male offspring. Together, these results underscore the multidimensional impact of the combined neonatal and maternal environments on offspring development. These data also identify potential deficiencies in the quality of the "gold standard" laboratory housing condition and its impact on the welfare and design of translationally relevant animal models in biomedical research.

Vaginal Delivery Could Affect on Lactose Content of Human Milk

Objective: The macronutrients of human milk are considered as essential nutritional sources in the first few months of a newborn’s life. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of delivery mode on the macronutrients of human milk. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 102 women who gave birth by cesarean section or vaginal delivery between September 2019 and November 2019. The participants were requested to provide their milk samples on day 15±1 after childbirth. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups (cesarean and vaginal delivery) regarding the sociodemographic characteristics and intake of fat, carbohydrate, protein, and energy. The lactose level was significantly higher in women who gave birth by vaginal delivery [adjusted mean difference, 1.2 (95% CI 0.02- 1.82)]. For other macronutrients, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The vaginal delivery might influence the mature milk lactose level.

Valproic Acid Concentrations in Mothers, Colostrum and Breastfed Infants during the Early Postpartum Period: Comparison with Concentrations Determined during Delivery and in the Mature Milk Period

To obtain information on the transport of valproic acid from mothers to colostrum and breastfed infants, in this cohort study, valproic acid concentrations in maternal serum (90 subjects), colostrum and the serum of breastfed infants were analyzed in years 1993–2018, between the 2nd and 5th postnatal days. Valproic acid concentrations ranged from 4.3 to 66.5 mg/L (mean 31.2 ± 13.6 mg/L) in maternal serum, from 0.5 to 5.9 mg/L (mean 1.1 ± 1.2 mg/L) in milk, and from 0.5 to 42.9 mg/L (mean 15.4 ± 9.4 mg/L) in infant serum. The milk/maternal serum concentration ratio ranged from 0.01 to 0.22 (mean 0.04 ± 0.04), and the infant/maternal serum concentration ratio ranged from 0.01 to 1.61 (mean 0.51 ± 0.28). A significant correlation was found between serum concentrations of breastfed infants and milk concentrations, maternal serum concentrations, maternal daily dose, and dose related to maternal body weight. Valproic acid concentrations in milk and infant serum did not reach the lower limit of the reference range used for the general epileptic population, and three-quarters of the concentrations in milk were lower than the lower limit of quantification. Routine monitoring of serum concentrations of breastfed infants is not necessary. If signs of potential adverse reactions are noted, serum concentrations of the infants should be measured.

Dietary Intake of Chinese Lactating Women Is Associated with the Fatty Acid Profile of Their Milk

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The present study aimed to explore the relationship between the dietary intake and the human milk (HM) fatty acid (FA) profile of Chinese lactating women. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> HM samples and food records were obtained from 122 Chinese women over 5 visits between 0 and 51 days postpartum. Adjusted multiple regression was performed to explore associations between maternal dietary intakes of energy, macronutrients, FAs and foods, and the HM FA profile. Analyses were performed separately for colostrum and mature milk. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Dietary intakes of total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid were positively associated with the HM contents of PUFAs, omega-6 (n-6) PUFAs, and linoleic acid (LA), and the intakes of n-3 PUFAs and α-linolenic acid (ALA) were negatively associated with saturated FA levels in HM. Associations were stronger for mature milk. Intakes of milk/dairy, meat/poultry, and eggs were negatively associated with n-6 PUFAs, LA, and EPA in mature milk, whereas the opposite was seen for fish/shrimp. Positive associations were also found between fish/shrimp and total and n-3 PUFAs in mature milk. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The HM FA profile of Chinese women is associated with their diet, and in particular with their FA intake. Tailored nutritional advice based on HM FA composition may optimize HM FA profile and thereby contribute to healthy infant development.

Acrylamide Content in Breast Milk: The Evaluation of the Impact of Breastfeeding Women’s Diet and the Estimation of the Exposure of Breastfed Infants to Acrylamide in Breast Milk

Acrylamide in food is formed by the Maillard reaction. Numerous studies have shown that acrylamide is a neurotoxic and carcinogenic compound. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acrylamide in breast milk at different lactation stages and to evaluate the impact of breastfeeding women’s diet on the content of this compound in breast milk. The acrylamide level in breast milk samples was determined by LC–MS/MS. Breastfeeding women’s diet was evaluated based on the 24 h dietary recall. The median acrylamide level in colostrum (n = 47) was significantly (p < 0.0005) lower than in the mature milk (n = 26)—0.05 µg/L and 0.14 µg/L, respectively. The estimated breastfeeding women’s acrylamide intake from the hospital diet was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than that from the home diet. We found positive—although modest and borderline significant—correlation between acrylamide intake by breastfeeding women from the hospital diet µg/day) and acrylamide level in the colostrum (µg/L). Acrylamide has been detected in human milk samples, and a positive correlation between dietary acrylamide intake by breastfeeding women and its content in breast milk was observed, which suggests that the concentration can be reduced. Breastfeeding women should avoid foods that may be a source of acrylamide in their diet.

Gestational Hypertension and Their Impact on Activin A Concentration of the Human Milk

Introduction It is known that Preeclampsia affects the lactogenesis, but literature data on the effects of this syndrome on the neurobiomarkers composition and Activin A of Human Milk of the lactating mother are not available. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of this gestational pathology on Activin A levels, a neurobiomarker known to play an important role in the development and protection of the central nervous system.Methods The women recruited in the study were divided in two different study groups: preeclamptic or healthy women. All the breast milk samples were collected using the same procedure into sterile devices BPA-free. Activin A was quantified using an ELISA test. To investigate the effect of pathology in the Activin a concentration in the 3 phases, mixed linear model with unistructural covariance structure, mother as random effect, and fixed effects were performed.Results Activin A was detected in all samples. There were no significant differences between Preeclamptic mother and Normotensive women. The only significant effect is related to the HM phase: in particular, it is significant the difference between colostrum and mature milk (p<0.01).Conclusion There is not any significant difference in Activin A breast milk composition from hypertensive and normotensive women. This result allows us to affirm that breast milk beneficial properties are maintained even if gestational hypertension occurs.