Effects of breastfeeding chemosignals on the human menstrual cycle

Jacob, Suma; Spencer, Natasha; Bullivant, Susan; Sellergren, Sarah A.; Mennella, Julie A.; McClintock, Martha K.

doi:10.1093/humrep/deh057

Cited by 28 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Breastfeeding was expected to lower the ovarian cancer risk during the suppression of ovulatory cycles (Short et al, 1991, McNeilly, 2001). Chemosignals present in human milk modulate ovarian cycle length (Jacob et al, 2004). However, ovulation will resume upon supplementary feeding and reduce the intensity of breastfeeding (Short et al, 1991;Li and Qiu, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies

Li¹,

Du²,

Zhang³

et al. 2014

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

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Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15 (12), 4829-4837 IntroductionBreastfeeding is the most common method by which mothers provide nutrition to newborn infants. Based on the latest National Immunization Survey data in 2012, the overall rate of initiation of breastfeeding in the United States is 76.9% (CDC). The most significant effect of breastfeeding on maternal health is the reduced risk of developing breast cancer (Bernier et al., 2000; Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast, 2002;do Carmo Franca-Botelho et al., 2012). Studies of the overall effect of breastfeeding on maternal outcomes also suggest that breastfeeding decreases the risk of developing hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Schwarz et al., 2009). Infant could also benefit from long-term breastfeeding, e.g. prevention of Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma (Wang et al., 2013).Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the seventh-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. The prognosis for ovarian cancer is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 45% (Jemal et al., 2011), and the causes of the disease are not understood. There

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies

Li¹,

Du²,

Zhang³

et al. 2014

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

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“…In this particular instance, however, the effect was not to synchronize but to increase variability among women. Jacob et al (2004) reported that the odors obtained from the breasts of lactating women disrupted "the normal homeostatic regulation of cycle length" in other nulliparous women who were given the chemical signals. The effect was pronounced-variability in cycles increased threefold-and was suggested to play a role in fertility in the general population of women.…”

Section: Pheromone Response: Primers Signalers Modulators and Relementioning

confidence: 99%

Facts, fallacies, fears, and frustrations with human pheromones

2004

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Among primates in general, pheromones are of variable importance to social communication. Data on humans have generated the greatest controversy regarding the existence of pheromonal communication. In this review, the likelihood of pheromonal communication in humans is assessed with a discussion of chemical compounds produced by the axilla that may function as pheromones; the likelihood that the vomeronasal organ (VNO), a putative pheromone receptor organ in many other mammals, is functional in humans; and the possible ways pheromones operate in humans. In the human axilla, the interactions between the cutaneous microflora and axillary secretions render this region analogous to scent glands found in other primates. Both the chemistry of axillary secretions and their effects on conspecifics in humans appear to be analogous to other mammalian pheromone systems. Whichever chemical compounds serve a pheromonal function in humans, another unknown is the receptor. Although the VNO has been implicated in the reception of pheromones in many vertebrates, it is not the only pathway through which such information has access to the central nervous system; there is ample evidence to support the view that the olfactory epithelium can respond to pheromones. Furthermore, if a chemical activates receptors within the VNO, this does not necessarily mean that the compound is a pheromone. An important caveat for humans is that critical components typically found within the functioning VNO of other, nonprimate, mammals are lacking, suggesting that the human VNO does not function in the way that has been described for other mammals. In a broader perspective, pheromones can be classified as primers, signalers, modulators, and releasers. There is good evidence to support the presence of the former three in humans. Examples include affects on the menstrual cycle (primer effects); olfactory recognition of newborn by its mother (signaler); individuals may exude different odors based on mood (suggestive of modulator effects). However, there is no good evidence for releaser effects in adult humans. It is emphasized that no bioassay-guided study has led to the isolation of true human pheromones, a step that will elucidate specific functions to human chemical signals.

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“…Eight entrained, OVX females implanted first with estradiol, then progesterone, and lastly a combination of the two hormones were used as odor donors during a series of phase advances, followed by a shift with clean air. Silastic capsules similar to those used in earlier experiments (20) containing crystalline estradiol benzoate (E; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) or progesterone (P; Sigma) were prepared as described in Labyak and Lee (26), with an effective length of 15 mm (DowCorning, Corning, NY; 1.98 mm ID, 3.15 mm OD). Hormone capsules were put into the odor donors for 48 h prior to their odors being routed to shifting females.…”

Section: Experiments 1: Habituation To Nonanimal Odorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequent studies explored the hormonal aspects of the sex difference in the use of social olfactory stimuli in reentrainment and reported that testicular hormones suppressed responsiveness to odor cues in males (21), and ovarian hormones were necessary for females responding to odor cues with accelerated reentrainment (20). Ovariectomized (OVX) females did not increase their rates of reentrainment in the presence of a social cue donor nor were they effective as donors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Odor-specific effects on reentrainment following phase advances in the diurnal rodent, Octodon degus

Jechura¹,

Mahoney²,

Stimpson³

et al. 2006

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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trainment following phase shifts of the light-dark (LD) cycle is accelerated in Octodon degus in the presence of olfactory social cues (i.e., odors) produced by conspecifics. However, not all odors from conspecifics were effective in facilitating reentrainment after a phase advance. In the current experiments, we examined whether nonanimal odors, odors from another species, or conspecific odors, including those manipulated by steroid hormones, can cause the same increased reentrainment of wheel-running activity as odors from an intact, adult female degu. A variety of odors, each selected to probe a particular aspect of the reentrainment acceleration phenomenon, were presented to a group of phase-shifting female degus. The shifting females (test animals) responded to odors of intact, female degu donors with decreased reentrainment time, but odors of ovariectomized (OVX), OVX with a single hormone replacement capsule (estradiol or progesterone) or phase-shifting females had no effect. Multiple males were effective odor donors, whereas a single male was ineffective in earlier studies. Rats and cloves were not effective in accelerating reentrainment. Furthermore, odors from rats delayed reentrainment. We conclude that the odors that effectively accelerate degu reentrainment after a phase advance of the LD cycle are species specific. We also report that repeated phase shifts, followed by complete recovery of phase relationships, do not alter the rate of recovery from a phase shift over time. These data suggest that in O. degus, a social species, odors may reinforce and strengthen the salience of the photic zeitgeber and/or facilitate synchronization of rhythms between animals. circadian rhythm; degu; phase-shift; entrainment; nonphotic signals CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS SUCH AS sleep/wake cycles, temperature fluctuations, and hormonal changes are synchronized by time cues (i.e

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Effects of breastfeeding chemosignals on the human menstrual cycle

Abstract: Because compounds from lactating women and their infants modulated the ovarian cycles of women, as is seen in other mammals, they have the potential to function as pheromones, regulating fertility within groups of women.

Cited by 28 publications

References 41 publications

Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies

Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies

Facts, fallacies, fears, and frustrations with human pheromones

Odor-specific effects on reentrainment following phase advances in the diurnal rodent, Octodon degus

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