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Updated: Jul 22, 2025
Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit
Published on: December 16, 2015
Does human milk composition predict later risk of obesity? A systematic review
Mayara Vieira Queiroz De Paula1, Maude Grant2,3, Julie Lanigan2
1Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK. mayara.paula.19@ucl.ac.uk.
Background:
Possible mechanisms behind the association of breastfeeding with a lower risk of later obesity are unknown but one possibility is the unique composition of human milk. Here, we systematically reviewed the evidence linking breast-milk macronutrient and hormonal composition with later obesity.
Methods:
We searched 7 databases for studies that included infants predominantly breast-fed for the first 3 months and which analysed associations between a measure of breast-milk composition and later (> 6 months) measures of obesity or body composition.
Results:
47 publications were identified for full-text screening, of which 10 were eligible and only 3 found significant associations. Higher leptin concentration in breast milk at age 1 month was associated with lower infant BMI at 12, 18 and 24 months of age (1 study). Higher breast-milk adiponectin concentration at 6 weeks and 4 months were associated with adiposity at age 12 and 24 months (1 study). In 1 study, breast-milk carbohydrate content was positively associated, and fat content negatively associated, with adiposity at age 12 months. No significant associations were found between other hormones or macronutrients in human milk and later risk of obesity or body composition.
Conclusions:
The evidence linking breast-milk composition with later obesity was inconsistent and confined to single, individual studies. Our review highlights the methodological limitations of previous studies and the need for further research in this area.
