Dataset Information

Variation in Human Milk Composition Is Related to Differences in Milk and Infant Fecal Microbial Communities.

ABSTRACT: Previously published data from our group and others demonstrate that human milk oligosaccharide (HMOs), as well as milk and infant fecal microbial profiles, vary by geography. However, little is known about the geographical variation of other milk-borne factors, such as lactose and protein, as well as the associations among these factors and microbial community structures in milk and infant feces. Here, we characterized and contrasted concentrations of milk-borne lactose, protein, and HMOs, and examined their associations with milk and infant fecal microbiomes in samples collected in 11 geographically diverse sites. Although geographical site was strongly associated with milk and infant fecal microbiomes, both sample types assorted into a smaller number of community state types based on shared microbial profiles. Similar to HMOs, concentrations of lactose and protein also varied by geography. Concentrations of HMOs, lactose, and protein were associated with differences in the microbial community structures of milk and infant feces and in the abundance of specific taxa. Taken together, these data suggest that the composition of human milk, even when produced by relatively healthy women, differs based on geographical boundaries and that concentrations of HMOs, lactose, and protein in milk are related to variation in milk and infant fecal microbial communities.

SUBMITTER: Pace RM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8230061 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAccumulating evidence indicates that free amino acids (FAA) might be bioactive compounds with potential immunomodulatory capabilities. However, the FAA composition in human milk is still poorly characterized with respect to its correlation to maternal serum levels and its physiological significance for the infant. Studies addressing the relation of human milk FAA to the infants' intestinal microbiota are still missing.MethodsAs part of a pilot study, maternal serum and breast milk FAA concentrations as well as infant intestinal microbiota (16S rRNA) were determined 2 months after birth. The study cohort consisted of 41 healthy mothers and their term delivered, healthy infants with normal birthweight. The relationship between maternal serum and milk FAA was determined by correlation analyses. Associations between (highly correlated) milk FAA and infant intestinal beta diversity were tested using PERMANOVA, LefSe and multivariate regression models adjusted for common confounders.ResultsSeven breast milk FAA correlated significantly with serum concentrations. One of these, threonine showed a negative association with abundance of members of the class Gammaproteobacteria (R2adj = 17.1%, p = 0.006; β= - 0.441). In addition, on the level of families and genera, threonine explained 23.2% of variation of the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae (R2adj; p = 0.001; β = - 0.504) and 11.1% of variability in the abundance of Escherichia/Shigella (R2adj, p = 0.025; β = - 0.368), when adjusted for confounders.ConclusionOur study is the first to suggest potential interactions between breast milk FAA and infant gut microbiota composition during early lactation. The results might be indicative of a potential protective role of threonine against members of the Enterobacteriaceae family in breast-fed infants. Still, results are based on correlation analyses and larger cohorts are needed to support the findings and elucidate possible underlying mechanisms to assess the complex interplay between breast milk FAA and infant intestinal microbiota in detail.

Project description:Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) may provide health benefits to infants partly by shaping the development of the early-life intestinal microbiota. In a randomized double-blinded controlled multicentric clinical trial, healthy term infants received either infant formula (control) or the same formula with two HMOs (2'-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose; test) from enrollment (0 to 14 days) to 6 months. Then, all infants received the same follow-up formula without HMOs until 12 months of age. Breastfed infants (BF) served as a reference group. Stool microbiota at 3 and 12 months, analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, clustered into seven fecal community types (FCTs) with marked differences in total microbial abundances. Three of the four 12-month FCTs were likely precursors of the adult enterotypes. At 3 months, microbiota composition in the test group (n = 58) appeared closer to that of BF (n = 35) than control (n = 63) by microbiota alpha (within group) and beta (between groups) diversity analyses and distribution of FCTs. While bifidobacteriaceae dominated two FCTs, its abundance was significantly higher in one (FCT BiH for Bifidobacteriaceae at high abundance) than in the other (FCT Bi for Bifidobacteriaceae). HMO supplementation increased the number of infants with FCT BiH (predominant in BF) at the expense of FCT Bi (predominant in control). We explored the association of the FCTs with reported morbidities and medication use up to 12 months. Formula-fed infants with FCT BiH at 3 months were significantly less likely to require antibiotics during the first year than those with FCT Bi. Previously reported lower rates of infection-related medication use with HMOs may therefore be linked to gut microbiota community types. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration number NCT01715246.)IMPORTANCE Human milk is the sole and recommended nutrition for the newborn infant and contains one of the largest constituents of diverse oligosaccharides, dubbed human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Preclinical and clinical association studies indicate that HMOs have multiple physiological functions largely mediated through the establishment of the gut microbiome. Until recently, HMOs were not available to investigate their role in randomized controlled intervention trials. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of 2 HMOs on establishing microbiota in newborn infants. We provide a detailed description of the microbiota changes observed upon feeding a formula with 2 HMOs in comparison to breastfed reference infants' microbiota. Then, we associate the microbiota to long-term health as assessed by prescribed antibiotic use.

Dataset Information

Variation in Human Milk Composition Is Related to Differences in Milk and Infant Fecal Microbial Communities.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets