Assessment of Breastmilk Microbiome Focusing on Probiotics

Breastmilk is an important factor affecting the infant's gut microbiota and health. Both milk microbiome and the content of oligosaccharides play a role in this effect. The mother's lifestyle can affect the breast milk microbiome. In this study, we assessed the breast milk microbiome in healthy mothers in Iran and its relationship to the mother's lifestyle during lactation.

In a cross-sectional study, from May 2022 to January 2023, 20 mother-neonates participated by donating their breastmilk samples and completing two questionnaires (food recall for nutritional status and DASS-21 for psychological status). Milk samples in aerobic and anaerobic conditions were cultured to isolate bacterial strains, and the probiotic strains were determined. Data entrees and analysis were done using SPSS-15, and the independent T-student or Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.

Seven bacterial species were isolated, including Pedicoccus acidilactici, Lactobacillus fermentum (potential probiotics), Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Rothia kristinae, Streptococcus rubneri, and Streptococcus parasanguinis. It was shown that the consumption of dairy products in the diet was related to probiotic strains in breast milk (p value = 0.03).

Among the microbiome isolated from breast milk, two probiotics, Pedicoccus acidilactici and Lactobacillus fermentum, were detected. In the mother's diet, dairy product intake during lactation can increase the probiotics in breast milk and give the infant more valuable content.