Melatonin in Early Nutrition: Long-Term Effects on Cardiovascular System

Abstract

Breastfeeding protects against adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the long term. Melatonin is an active molecule that is present in the breast milk produced at night beginning in the first stages of lactation. This indoleamine appears to be a relevant contributor to the benefits of breast milk because it can affect infant health in several ways. The melatonin concentration in breast milk varies in a circadian pattern, making breast milk a chrononutrient. The consumption of melatonin can induce the first circadian stimulation in the infant’s body at an age when his/her own circadian machinery is not functioning yet. This molecule is also a powerful antioxidant with the ability to act on infant cells directly as a scavenger and indirectly by lowering oxidant molecule production and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the body. Melatonin also participates in regulating inflammation. Furthermore, melatonin can participate in shaping the gut microbiota composition, richness, and variation over time, also modulating which molecules are absorbed by the host. In all these ways, melatonin from breast milk influences weight gain in infants, limiting the development of obesity and comorbidities in the long term, and it can help shape the ideal cellular environment for the development of the infant’s cardiovascular system.

Mechanisms of Melatonin in Obesity: A Review

“…The maternal MTNR1B genotype interacts with pregnancy weight gain and affects the risk of childhood obesity in the offspring [ 66 ]. In addition, melatonin from breast milk influences weight gain in infants, limiting the development of obesity and complications in the long run [ 69 ]. Melatonin protects against maternal obesity-associated oxidative stress (OS) and meiotic defects in oocytes via the silent information regulator 1(SIRT3)-superoxide dismutase (SOD) 2-dependent pathway [ 70 ].…”

Melatonin Levels in Children with Obesity Are Associated with Metabolic Risk and Inflammatory Parameters

“…The pleiotropy of melatonin to act as a regulator of cell metabolism is related to the diversity in the distribution of its receptors, mainly Melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and Melatonin receptor 2 (MT2) [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]. Melatonin has been shown to regulate carbohydrate metabolism through the expression of the glucose transporter (Glut-4) and to participate in immune system regulation [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Early Life Nutrition and the Development of Offspring Metabolic Health

“…This Special Issue also included three review articles that summarised the recent findings associated with maternal cannabinoid exposure [ 11 ], maternal melatonin and offspring cardiovascular development [ 12 ], and the gut microbiome and how this impacts the development of kidney disease [ 13 ].…”

“…In the review by Gombert and Codoñer-Franch [ 12 ], the role of melatonin, which is present in breast milk, on offspring circadian rhythm, inflammation, and gut microbiota was discussed. Gombert and Codoñer-Franch described the mechanisms by which melatonin from breast milk influences weight gain in infants, limiting the development of obesity and comorbidities in the long term.…”

“…Gombert and Codoñer-Franch described the mechanisms by which melatonin from breast milk influences weight gain in infants, limiting the development of obesity and comorbidities in the long term. Collectively, these can modulate the ideal cellular environment for the development of the infant’s cardiovascular system [ 12 ].…”