Mothers Secretor Status Affects Development of Childrens Microbiota Composition and Function: A Pilot Study

Abstract

BackgroundOne mechanism by which early life environment may influence long term health is through modulation of the gut microbiota. It is widely accepted that the optimal source of nutrition in early life is breast milk, with Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) thought to play an important role in nourishing the developing microbiota. However, mothers with inactive secretor genes have altered HMO composition and quantities in their breast milk. In this pilot study we examine the influence of secretor status and breast-feeding on microbiota composition at 2 to 3 years of age.Methods37 children and 17 eligible mothers were recruited. Secretor status was determined from blood and saliva samples using hemagglutination inhibition technique and faecal microbiota composition was examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsSecretor status was determined for 28 eligible children with 20 being secretors (S, 71.4%). Eleven of the 17 mothers were secretors (S, 64.7%). Unweighted UniFrac distances were significantly associated with child secretor status (R2 = 0.069, p = 0.030) and with mother secretor status in children exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months (R2 = 0.167, p = 0.028), suggesting an influence on the presence/absence of microbes, with Prevotella not detected in samples from secretor children and children of secretor mothers. In children who were exclusively breast-fed for at least 4 months of life the abundance of the known HMO consumers Bifidobacterium were increased in the children of secretor mothers compared to non-secretor mothers. The relative abundance of an OTU related to Bacteroides plebeius, a bacterium noted for its capacity to utilise sulphated polysaccharides for growth, was decreased in these children.ConclusionsChild and mothers’ secretor status have an impact on childrens’ microbiota composition at 2 to 3 years of age.

The Impact of Dietary Fucosylated Oligosaccharides and Glycoproteins of Human Milk on Infant Well-Being

“…In line with the above, it is also important to pay attention to an additional important factor, the interrelationships between the various components of the infant's intestinal microbiome related to the type of feeding. Moreover, among breasted infants, differences in microbiome related to the secretor/non-secretor status of mothers are observed (Figure 3) [96,97]. Additionally, during each breastfeeding, subsequent "doses" of bacteria, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus [98], present in maternal milk are delivered.…”

“…Additionally, during each breastfeeding, subsequent "doses" of bacteria, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus [98], present in maternal milk are delivered. So, the breastfed infants in contrast to the formula-fed infants have contact with another set of bacteria, as well as oligosaccharides and glycoproteins, which all have an impact on significant differences in colonization and maturation of the infant's gut [96,97,99]. Breastfeeding shapes the intestinal microflora of newborns and infants, both directly through the "exposure" of the newborn to the microflora present in breast milk, and indirectly, through breast milk factors such as HMOs, which are a key influence on bacterial growth and metabolism [100].…”

“…The impact of maternal secretor status on infant's microbiota establishment[96,97]. HMOs, human milk oligosaccharides; HMGs, human milk glycoproteins.…”

Leche Materna: Características funcionales de los oligosacáridos de la leche materna (Parte 2)

“…A los 2-3 años de edad los hijos de las madres portadoras del carácter secretor tenían recuentos más elevados de bifidobacterias fecales, pero los recuentos de algunas especies de Bacteroides disminuyeron a los 4 meses y las diferencias iniciales con los hijos de madres no-secretoras perdieron significancia. El carácter secretor de las madres que amamantan en forma exclusiva por a lo menos 4 meses continúa modulando la composición de la microbiota intestinal de sus hijos a los 2-3 años 35 .…”

Breastfeeding and the gut-brain axis: is there a role for melatonin?

“…A recent study by Smith-Brown and colleagues highlighted the relevance of secretor status interactions with breastfeeding on microbiota composition at 2-3 years of age (55). Breastfeeding also modulates the infant's response to routine Rotarix childhood immunization at 8 and 15 weeks of age (56).…”