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Free and Total Amino Acids in Human Milk in Relation to Maternal and Infant Characteristics and Infant Health Outcomes: The Ulm SPATZ Health Study.

ABSTRACT: Free amino acids (FAAs) are important regulators of key pathways necessary for growth, development, and immunity. Data on FAAs in human milk (HM) and their roles in infant development are limited. We investigated the levels of FAAs and total amino acids (TAA, i.e., the sum of conjugated amino acids and FAAs) in HM in relation to infant and maternal characteristics and immunological conditions. FAA and TAA levels in HM sampled at 6 weeks (n = 671) and 6 months (n = 441) of lactation were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Child growth was ascertained at 4-5 weeks and at 6-7 months of age. Child allergy and lower respiratory tract infections were assessed in the first years of life. Associations of amino acid (AA) levels in HM with child growth and health outcomes were determined by Spearman correlation and modified Poisson regression, respectively. Free glutamine, glutamate, and serine in 6-week HM positively correlated with infant weight gain in the first 4-5 weeks of age. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI) were negatively correlated with free glutamine and asparagine in 6-week and 6-month HM and positively correlated with the sum of TAAs in 6-month HM, but significance was lost following confounder adjustment. Free glutamine was lower in 6-month HM of mothers with an allergy (either active or non-active). No consistent associations were found between FAAs in HM and child health outcomes. However, potential negative associations were observed between specific FAAs and the risk of food allergy. These results suggest that specific FAAs play a role in infant growth. Moreover, these findings warrant further investigations into the relation of FAAs in HM with infant health outcomes and maternal allergy.

SUBMITTER: van Sadelhoff JHJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8230437 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background: Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) support and concurrently shape the neonatal immune system through various mechanisms. Thereby, they may contribute to lower incidence of infections in infants. However, there is limited evidence on the role of individual HMOs in the risk of otitis media (OM), as well as lower and upper respiratory tract infections (LRTI and URTI, respectively) in children up to 2 years. Objective: To investigate whether individual HMO concentrations measured at 6 weeks of lactation were associated with risk of OM, LRTI or URTI up to 2 years in breastfed infants. Associations with OM, LRTI and URTI were determined for the most prominent human milk oligosaccharides including 13 neutral, partly isomeric structures (trioses up to hexaoses), two acidic trioses, and lactose. Design: HMO measurements and physician reported data on infections were available from human milk samples collected at 6 weeks postpartum (n = 667). Associations of HMOs with infections were assessed in crude and adjusted models using modified Poisson regression. Results: Absolute concentrations (median [min, max], in g/L) of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) tended (p = 0.04) to be lower, while lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) was higher in the milk for infants with OM in the 1st year of life (p = 0.0046). In the milk of secretor mothers, LNT was significantly higher in the milk for infants with OM (RR [95% CI]: 0.98 [0.15, 2.60]) compared to infants without OM (RR [95% CI]: 0.76 [0.14, 2.90]) at 1 year (p = 0.0019). No statistically significant milk group differences and associations were observed for OM, LRTI, and URTI (p > 0.0031). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that neither prominent neutral individual HMOs (ranging from 2'-FL to LNDFHs) nor acidic human milk sialyllactoses or lactose are significantly associated with a reduced or increased risk of infections in infants up to 2 years of age. Further research is needed to determine whether specific HMOs could potentially reduce the incidence or alleviate the course of distinct infections in early life.

Project description:It is well known that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) play an important role in neurodevelopment in the perinatal life. The most important source of these fatty acids is the diet, however, they can also be formed in the human body from their shorter chain precursors, the essential fatty acids. Since the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months after birth, the exclusive source of these fatty acids for breastfed infants is human milk, which can be influenced by the mother's diet. Unsaturated fatty acids can have either cis or trans configuration double bond in their chain with distinct physiological effects. Cis isomeric unsaturated fatty acids have several beneficial effects, while trans isomers are mostly detrimental, because of their similar structure to saturated fatty acids. Trans fatty acids (TFAs) can be further subdivided into industrial (iTFA) and ruminant-derived trans fatty acids (rTFA). However, the physiological effects of these two TFA subgroups may differ. In adults, dietary intake of iTFA has been linked to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, obesity, chronic inflammation, and increased development of certain cancers, among other diseases. However, iTFAs can have a negative impact on health not only in adulthood but in childhood too. Results from previous studies have shown that iTFAs have a significant negative effect on LCPUFA levels in the blood of newborns and infants. In addition, iTFAs can affect the growth and development of infants, and animal studies suggest that they might even have lasting negative effects later in life. Since the only source of TFAs in the human body is the diet, the TFA content of breast milk may determine the TFA supply of breastfed infants and thus affect the levels of LCPUFAs important for neurodevelopment and the health of infants. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the TFA content in human milk available in the literature and their potential effects on infant health and development.

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Free and Total Amino Acids in Human Milk in Relation to Maternal and Infant Characteristics and Infant Health Outcomes: The Ulm SPATZ Health Study.

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