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The odour of human milk: Its chemical variability and detection by newborns

Helene M Loos1, Daniela Reger1, Benoist Schaal2

  • 1Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 9, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; Sensory Analytics Department, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Str. 35, 85354 Freising, Germany.

Physiology & Behavior
|November 12, 2018
PubMed

Human milk odour has for long elicited research interest with regard to its function in breastfeeding initiation. The present review aims to provide an overview of the behavioural effects of human milk odour in the human neonate, considering different types of response measures in a feeding or non-feeding context. Further, an overview of the current knowledge of odorant composition and factors influencing milk odour is provided by summarizing results from analytical studies using olfactometry, and addressing changes in milk odour due to storage, lactational stage, and maternal dietary intake of odorous substances. We finally highlight some issues for future research.

Keywords:
BehaviourBody odourGas chromatography-olfactometry/Mass spectrometryHumanMilkNeonate

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