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Human Milk Adiponectin and Leptin and Infant Body Composition over the First 12 Months of Lactation
Zoya Gridneva1, Sambavi Kugananthan2,3, Alethea Rea4
1School of Molecular Sciences, M310, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia. zoya.gridneva@uwa.edu.au.
Insights
Human milk adipokines influence infant body composition. Higher intakes of adiponectin and skim/whole milk leptin were linked to increased infant fat mass and altered fat-free mass, impacting early development.
Area of Science:
- Human Biology
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Human milk (HM) adipokines are bioactive proteins potentially influencing infant development.
- Early life nutrition and body composition (BC) are critical for long-term health.
- Understanding the role of HM adipokines in infant BC programming is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between human milk adipokine concentrations and calculated daily intakes (CDI) with maternal and infant body composition.
- To examine the relationship between HM adipokines and infant breastfeeding parameters.
- To determine the impact of HM adipokines on infant body composition during the first year of life.
Main Methods:
- Studied 20 breastfeeding dyads, measuring infant and maternal body composition using ultrasound skinfolds and bioimpedance spectroscopy.
- Quantified adiponectin and leptin (skim and whole milk) in human milk and calculated daily intakes (CDI).
- Employed linear regression and mixed-effects models, adjusting for multiple comparisons.
Main Results:
- Adipokine concentrations in milk did not correlate with infant body composition.
- Higher CDI of adiponectin were associated with lower infant fat-free mass (FFM) and higher fat mass (FM).
- Higher CDI of skim milk leptin (SML) and whole milk leptin (WML) were linked to increased infant adiposity and altered FFM index.
Conclusions:
- Human milk adipokine intakes differentially influence infant body composition during the first year.
- This period represents a critical window for infant programming.
- Modulation of infant BC by HM adipokines may influence later disease risk.
Abstract:
Human milk (HM) adipokines may influence infant feeding patterns, appetite regulation, and body composition (BC). The associations between concentrations/calculated daily intakes (CDI) of HM adipokines in the first 12 months postpartum and maternal/term infant BC, and infant breastfeeding parameters were investigated. BC of breastfeeding dyads (n = 20) was measured at 2, 5, 9, and/or 12 months postpartum with ultrasound skinfolds (infants) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (infants/mothers). 24-h milk intake and feeding frequency were measured along with whole milk adiponectin and skim and whole milk leptin (SML and WML) and CDI were calculated. Statistical analysis used linear regression/mixed effects models; results were adjusted for multiple comparisons. Adipokine concentrations did not associate with infant BC. Higher CDI of adiponectin were associated with lower infant fat-free mass (FFM; p = 0.005) and FFM index (FFMI; p = 0.009) and higher fat mass (FM; p < 0.001), FM index (FMI; p < 0.001), and %FM (p < 0.001). Higher CDI of SML were associated with higher infant FM (p < 0.001), FMI (p < 0.001), and %FM (p = 0.002). At 12 months, higher CDI of WML were associated with larger increases in infant adiposity (2⁻12 month: FM, p = 0.0006; %FM, p = 0.0004); higher CDI of SML were associated with a larger decrease in FFMI (5⁻12 months: p = 0.0004). Intakes of HM adipokines differentially influence development of infant BC in the first year of life, which is a critical window of infant programming and may potentially influence risk of later disease via modulation of BC.
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