Variation of Metabolite and Hormone Contents in Human Milk

Hans Demmelmair1, Berthold Koletzko1

  • 1Division of Metabolism and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Childrens Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center, Lindwurmstrasse 4, 80337 München, Germany.

Clinics in Perinatology
|February 5, 2017
PubMed

Animal studies show that the lactation period contributes to metabolic programming of the offspring and that oral leptin and insulin show bioactivity. Stage of lactation, duration of gestation, maternal body composition, and maternal diet seem to influence the concentrations of small molecules in human milk. Variability of small molecule concentrations seems higher in preterm milk than in term milk. Insulin in human milk shows concentrations similar to plasma. Leptin concentration is lower in milk than in plasma and reflects maternal body mass index. Early in lactation, leptin could contribute to mediating the association between maternal and infant body composition.

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