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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
09:02
Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
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Breast milk nutrient content and infancy growth.
Philippa Prentice1, Ken K Ong1,2, Marieke H Schoemaker3
1Department of Paediatrics, MRL Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|February 12, 2016
Summary
Human breast milk (HM) composition varies, impacting infant growth. Higher total calorie content (TCC) and fat in HM are linked to lower infant weight gain and adiposity, suggesting a role in preventing childhood obesity.
Area of Science:
- Human lactation research
- Infant nutrition and metabolism
- Pediatric endocrinology
Background:
- Human breast milk (HM) is crucial for infant nutrition, with potential benefits in preventing rapid infancy weight gain and later obesity.
- The nutrient composition of HM, including total calorie content (TCC) and macronutrients, may influence infant growth trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between HM total calorie content (TCC) and macronutrient composition with infant growth parameters.
- To test the hypothesis that variations in HM TCC or macronutrient profiles correlate with infant growth and adiposity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 614 hindmilk samples collected from mothers at 4-8 weeks postpartum.
- Quantification of HM fat, carbohydrate, and protein content using (1)H-NMR and Dumas method.
- Determination of TCC and percentage of macronutrients, alongside repeated infant anthropometry up to 12 months.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in HM macronutrient composition were observed, with exclusively breastfeeding mothers showing higher TCC and %fat compared to mixed feeders.
- Higher HM TCC and %fat were associated with lower infant body mass index (BMI)/adiposity and reduced weight/BMI gains from 3-12 months.
- %Carbohydrate in HM was positively related to infant weight/BMI gains, while %protein was positively related to 12-month BMI.
Conclusions:
- Human breast milk composition exhibits considerable variability in macronutrient content.
- Findings suggest a functional role for HM composition in modulating infant growth patterns, potentially influencing long-term adiposity, despite limitations in milk intake data.
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