Infant Feeding Frequency Impacts Human Milk Composition: A Metabolomic Analysis. (29th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraser, Karl; Lagstrom, Hanna; Pundir, Shikha; Cameron-Smith, David; Roy, Nicole
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 986
• Page End: 986
• Publication Date: 2020-05-29
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The nutritional composition of human milk is affected by many factors, including stage of lactation and time of day. Metabolomic profiling of milk provides a biochemical fingerprint of hundreds of metabolites being consumed by the infant, which may help to understand potential factors affecting infant health, growth and nutritional status. We hypothesized that frequency of daily lactations would alter the profile of metabolites and lipids in the milk. Methods: Human milk samples from 630 individuals [378 mothers exclusively breast feeding and 252 mothers partially breast feeding (i.e., infant supplemented with formula feeding)] from a single sample (infant aged 3 months) were subjected to biphasic extraction and metabolite profiling performed using two separate untargeted liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry analysis methods (polar metabolites and the lipidome). Results: Univariate statistical analysis of the lipidome data matrix revealed considerable differences in lipid concentrations between partial or exclusive feeding. Of the 241 lipids measured in the non-polar extracts, 203 were significantly different between the two groups after multiple testing correction (FDR corrected p-value <0.05). These included 96 triglycerides, 78 phospholipids, 27 sphingomyelins and 2 ceramides, all significantly elevated with exclusive feeding. Of the 320 metabolite features measured in the polar extracts, 69 were significantly different between the two groups, including carnitine and metabolites from the lysine degradation pathway, all reduced with exclusive feeding. Random forest analysis highlighted that overall profiles in both polar metabolite and lipid extracts were more consistent across the exclusive feeding group. Conclusions: This study provides insight into effects of feeding frequency on metabolite/lipid profiles, showing impact of possible altered milk synthesis and storage on relative abundances of discrete polar metabolites, with a broad impact on many lipid species. Funding Sources: Funded by AgResearch Strategic Science Investment Fund via the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.