Endocannabinoid metabolome characterization of milk from Guatemalan women living in the Western Highlands

Authors: GAITAN, ADRIAN - Louisiana State University; WOOD, JODIANNE - Northeastern University; SOLOMONS, NOEL - Center For Studies Of Sensory Impairment, Aging And Metabolism (CESSIAM); DONOHUE, JULIANA - University Of California, Davis; JI, LIPIN - Northeastern University; LIU, YINGPENG - Northeastern University; NIKAS, SPYROS - Northeastern University; ZHANG, FAN - Louisiana State University; Allen, Lindsay - A; MAKRIYANNIS, ALEXANDROS - Northeastern University; LAMMI-KEEFE, CAROL - Louisiana State University

Submitted to: Current Developments in Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2019
Publication Date: 3/27/2019
Citation: Gaitan, A.V., Wood, J.T., Solomons, N.W., Donohue, J.A., Ji, L., Liu, Y., Nikas, S.P., Zhang, F., Allen, L.H., Makriyannis, A., Lammi-Keefe, C.J. 2019. Endocannabinoid metabolome characterization of milk from Guatemalan women living in the Western Highlands. Current Developments in Nutrition. 3(6):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz018.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz018

Interpretive Summary: Background: Recognized as the gold-standard ideal fare, human milk has a unique composition that meets infants’ needs throughout development. Endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like compounds [endocannabinoid metabolome (ECM)] are endogenous lipid mediators derived from long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Based on animal models, it has been proposed that endocannabinoid arachidonoyl glycerol (AG) plays a role in establishing the infant’s suckling response during lactation. In addition, endocannabinoid ethanolamides have been shown to stimulate food intake. The mechanisms of action and the role of the ECM in human milk are not fully understood. Objectives: The present study aimed to characterize and quantify the ECM in human milk samples from an underserved population in Guatemala. Methods: Human milk samples were collected from lactating women (n = 26) for ECM characterization and quanti'cation. Samples were taken at 3 different time points between 4 and 6 mo of lactation during maternal fasting. Milk was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Identi'ed members of the ECM were: arachidonoyl ethanolamide, palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA), oleoyl ethanolamide, docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide, eicoapentaenoyl ethanolamide, eicosenoyl ethanolamide, AG, palmitoyl glycerol, oleoyl glycerol, docosahexaenoyl glycerol, eicosapentaenoyl glycerol, eicosenoyl glycerol, arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Results: Overall, concentrations in the ethanolamide group were lower than the glycerols. A time effect was observed for ARA, DHA, EPA, and PEA across the 3 time points (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Our study identi'ed the ECM in mature human milk and is the 'rst report on milk ECM in a poor population from a developing country. The few studies available have been conducted in developed countries.

Technical Abstract: Background: Recognized as the gold-standard ideal fare, human milk has a unique composition that meets infants’ needs throughout development. Endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like compounds [endocannabinoid metabolome (ECM)] are endogenous lipid mediators derived from long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Based on animal models, it has been proposed that endocannabinoid arachidonoyl glycerol (AG) plays a role in establishing the suckling response during lactation. In addition, endocannabinoid ethanolamides have been shown to stimulate food intake. The mechanisms of action and the role of the ECM in human milk are not fully understood. Objectives: The present study aimed to characterize and quantify the ECM in human milk samples from an underserved population in Guatemala. Methods: Human milk samples were collected from lactating women (n = 26) for ECM characterization and quanti'cation. Samples were taken at 3 different time points between 4 and 6 mo of lactation during maternal fasting. Human milk samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Identi'ed members of the ECM were: arachidonoyl ethanolamide, palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA), oleoyl ethanolamide, docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide, eicoapentaenoyl ethanolamide, eicosenoyl ethanolamide, AG, palmitoyl glycerol, oleoyl glycerol, docosahexaenoyl glycerol, eicosapentaenoyl glycerol, eicosenoyl glycerol, arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Results: Overall, concentrations in the ethanolamide group were lower than the glycerols. A time effect was observed for ARA, DHA, EPA, and PEA across the 3 time points (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Our study identi'ed the ECM in mature human milk and provides the 'rst report for a population with health disparities within a developing country. The few studies available have been conducted in developed countries. Hypotheses for future studies can be developed based on this study’s data to help elucidate speci'c roles for members of the ECM and how this biological system modulates infant health and development.