The Associations between Maternal Nutrition and the Composition of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) in Breastmilk
Creators: name: Biddulph, Caren
Publisher: name: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Year: 2023
Subjects: Human milk oligosaccharide
HMO
lactation
maternal nutrition
body composition
LC-MS
Nutrition and dietetics

description: Human milk is a dynamic, nutritive and bioactive fluid, which is recognised as the ideal way in which to nourish infants (1). Among the numerous bioactive components, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), significantly benefit infant health, offering enhanced protection from allergic and infectious diseases, and exerting prebiotic and metabolic effects (2-5). The composition of HMOs in the milk of lactating women demonstrates substantial intra- and inter-individual differences and may be influenced by maternal physiological or nutrition-related factors. The purpose of the research presented in this thesis was to investigate potential associations between maternal nutrition during lactation and HMO composition. The specific objectives were to explore associations between short-term maternal dietary intake during lactation, as well as maternal body composition indices, and the profiles of HMOs in mature human milk samples from healthy, Australian women.
description: In this cross-sectional, observational study, healthy, breastfeeding women (n = 101), provided a human milk sample according to a standardised collection protocol at 3-4 months postpartum. Maternal demographics, health data, dietary intake, and anthropometrics were collected using an online questionnaire and three validated 24-hour dietary recalls. The body composition of a subgroup of participants (n = 30) was assessed using Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans. Optimised liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques and chemical assays were used to assess the HMO profiles, gross macronutrient composition (lactose, fat, protein), and energy content of the milk samples. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to address the key research objectives. A p-value was considered if significant if it was less than 0.05. Multiple comparisons were corrected for by using either Bonferroni’s method or the Benyamini-Hochberg method.
description: The gross macronutrient composition and calculated energy levels of the milk samples in this study, were within reference ranges for mature human milk. Thirteen HMOs were identified and quantified by LC-MS in 101 human milk samples, and the majority (79 %) of the women were classified as Secretor-positive. Some nutrients were weakly correlated with individual HMOs upon the initial analyses, but these were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. DEXA scans revealed no associations between HMO profiles and maternal body composition during lactation.
description: No convincing and consistent associations between maternal dietary intake and HMO profiles in mature human milk were found in this research study. The findings suggest that the prevailing influence of genetic variation may overshadow any impact of maternal nutrition on HMO composition in mature human milk samples from healthy women.