Maternal weight and excessive weight gain during pregnancy modify the immunomodulatory potential of breast milk

Abstract

IntroductIon: Breast milk is an optimal source of nutrition for infants. It contains bioactive components including bacteria that support the microbial colonization and immune system development of the infant. The determinants of human milk composition remain poorly understood, although maternal nutritional and immunological status as well as lifestyle and dietary habits seem to have an impact. Methods: The subjects selected were women from a prospective follow-up study categorized by BMI. Milk samples were taken after delivery and at 1 and 6 mo later for analysis of composition in regard to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2, soluble cD14 (scD14), cytokines, and microbiota. results: TGF-β2 and scD14 levels in the breast milk of overweight mothers tended to be lower than the levels in that of normal-weight mothers. also, higher levels of Staphylococcus group bacteria and lower levels of Bifidobacterium group bacteria were detected in overweight mothers as compared with normal-weight ones. The prevalence of Akkermansia muciniphila-type bacteria was also higher in overweight mothers, and the numbers of these bacteria were related to the interleukin (IL)-6 concentration in the colostrum, which was in turn related to lower counts of Bifidobacterium group bacteria in the breast milk of overweight women. dIscussIon: complex interactions of cytokines and microbiota in breast milk guide the microbiological, immunological, and metabolic programming of infant health. Our data may indicate the presence of an additional mechanism that may explain the heightened risk of obesity for infants of overweight and excessive weight gain mothers.

Gut microbiota: a source of novel tools to reduce the risk of human disease?

“…Whilst chorionamnionitis caused by bacteria such as Ureaplasma urealyticum is a recognized risk factor for neonatal morbidities including necrotizing enterocolitis, cerebral palsy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, it is also becoming widely accepted that nonpathogenic bacteria are present in the placenta and amniotic fluid in healthy, term pregnancies (62). Bacterial DNA is consistently found in meconium suggesting fetal contact with microbes in amniotic fluid (5,8,22). We have recently reported that microbial DNA belonging most commonly to Bifidobacterium spp.…”

“…In addition, maternal health including conditions such as allergy and obesity may affect milk microbiota, resulting in reduced levels of Bifidobacterium spp. compared to healthy mothers (22,23).…”

Pre- and perinatal characteristics and breast milk immune markers

“…We found that preconception BMI was related to decreased levels of the Th2 cytokine IL-13 and Th1 cytokine IFN-γ in whey samples. Surprisingly, only one study investigated the relationship between maternal obesity and breast milk cytokine levels (29). Collado et al found that TGF-β2 and sCD14 levels in the breast milk of overweight mothers were lower than the levels Articles Burch et al…”

Consumption of human milk glycoconjugates by infant-associated bifidobacteria: mechanisms and implications

“…Of particular interest is how the intestinal microbiota is established, given the potential impact it has on subsequent health and disease (Reinhardt et al, 2009;Scholtens et al, 2012). Patterns of early intestinal colonization can have both short-term and long-term health effects (Bager et al, 2008;Cho et al, 2012;Collado et al, 2012;Kalliomäki et al, 2008;Salvini et al, 2011). Bacterial colonization of the intestine is key in several aspects: bacteria provide essential nutrients for the infant such as vitamins and short-chain fatty acids, they stimulate the development of the immune system, especially adaptive responses, and they provide general protection against pathogen colonization, among several other functions (Hooper et al, 2012;Nicholson et al, 2012).…”