Maternal Obesity Increases Breast Milk Bile Acid Levels.

Area of Science:

• Human Lactation Research
• Maternal-Fetal Health
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Breast milk (BM) is crucial for infant nutrition and development.
• Maternal obesity can alter BM composition, potentially impacting infant health.
• Bile acids (BA) are present in BM, but their composition and role are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare BA profiles in breast milk and plasma of mothers with and without obesity.
• To investigate the impact of maternal obesity on breast milk BA composition.

Main Methods:

• Collected BM and plasma samples from normal-weight and obese lactating women.
• Quantified BA concentrations using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Main Results:

• Bile acids were found in BM, mainly as glyco- and tauro-conjugated primary BAs.
• Maternal obesity significantly increased total BM BA levels, while plasma BA remained unchanged.
• BM BA levels correlated positively with maternal BMI, leptin, and insulin.

Conclusions:

• Maternal obesity is a key factor modifying BM BA composition.
• Altered BM BA profiles may have implications for neonatal digestion, maturation, and overall health.
• Further research is needed to understand the effects on infant health.