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Human Milk Short-Chain Fatty Acid Composition is Associated with Adiposity Outcomes in Infants.
Philippa M Prentice1, Marieke H Schoemaker2, Jacques Vervoort3
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The Journal of Nutrition
|May 4, 2019
Summary
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in human milk are linked to healthier infant growth. Higher levels of butyrate and formic acid in breast milk were associated with reduced infant weight gain and adiposity, suggesting a beneficial role in early development.
Area of Science:
- Human milk composition
- Infant nutrition
- Metabolic health
Background:
- Human milk (HM) is associated with preventing rapid infancy weight gain and later obesity.
- Limited data exists on breast milk composition and its relation to infant growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in human milk and infant anthropometrics.
- To explore the role of SCFAs in energy metabolism and infant growth.
Main Methods:
- Prospective birth cohort study of 619 mothers.
- Collection of human milk hindmilk samples for SCFA analysis using 1H-NMR and GC-MS.
- Measurement of infant anthropometrics (weight, length, skinfold thickness) at 3, 12, and 24 months.
Main Results:
- Butyrate, acetate, and formic acid were detected in human milk.
- Higher butyrate levels were found in milk from exclusively breastfeeding mothers.
- HM butyrate and formic acid showed negative associations with infant weight gain and BMI, while acetate was linked to reduced skinfold thickness.
Conclusions:
- Human milk SCFAs, particularly butyrate and formic acid, appear to play a beneficial role in regulating infant weight gain and adiposity.
- Understanding HM SCFA function can inform strategies for promoting healthy infant growth.
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