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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center » Microbiome and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417892
Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Human milk components and the infant gut microbiome at 6 months: understanding the interconnected relationship

Author
item KEBBE, MARYAM - University Of New Brunswick
item SHANKAR, KARTIK - University Of Colorado
item REDMAN, LEANNE - Louisiana State University
item ANDRES, ALINE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2024
Publication Date: 4/10/2024
Citation: Kebbe, M., Shankar, K., Redman, L.M., Andres, A. 2024. Human milk components and the infant gut microbiome at 6 months: understanding the interconnected relationship. Journal of Nutrition. 154(4):1200-1208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.02.029.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.02.029

Interpretive Summary: Background: Human milk oligosaccharides have been shown to relate to the infant gut microbiome. However, the impact of other human milk components on infant gut bacterial colonization remains unexplored. Objectives: Our cross-sectional analysis aimed to investigate associations between human milk components (energy, macronutrients, free amino acids, inflammatory markers, and hormones) and infant gut microbiome diversity and composition (phylum, family, and genus) at 6 mo of age. Methods: Human milk and infant stool samples were collected at 6 mo postpartum. The infant gut microbiome was profiled using 16S rRNA sequencing. Linear regression models were performed to examine associations, adjusting for pregravid BMI (kg/m2), delivery mode, duration of human milk feeding, and infant sex, with q < 0.2 considered significant. Results: This analysis included a total of 54 mothers (100% exclusively feeding human milk) and infants (n ¼ 28 male; 51.9%). Total energy in human milk showed a negative association with a-diversity measures (Chao1 and Shannon). Interleukin (IL)-8 in human milk was positively associated with Chao1 and observed operational taxonomic units. At the family level, human milk glutamine and serine levels showed a negative association with the abundance of Veillonellaceae, whereas isoleucine showed a positive association with Bacteroidaceae. Human milk IL-8 and IL-6 concentrations were positively associated with Bacteroidaceae abundance. IL-8 also had a positive relationship with Bifidobacteriaceae, whereas it had a negative relationship with Streptococcacea and Clostridiaceae. Human milk IL-8 was positively associated with the phylum Bacteroidetes, and negatively associated with Proteobacteria. At the genus level, human milk IL-8 exhibited a positive relationship with Bacteroides, whereas human milk isoleucine had a negative relationship with Bacteroides and Ruminococcus. Pregravid BMI and sex effects were observed. Conclusions: IL-8 in human milk could potentially prepare the infant’s immune system to respond effectively to various microorganisms, potentially promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and protecting against pathogens.

Technical Abstract: Our study investigated the associations between human milk components and infant gut microbiome diversity and composition at 6 months of age. A total of 54 mothers and infants were included in this analysis. Taken together, the results suggest that several human milk components are associated with the diversity of the microbiome and specific microbiota abundance. Specifically, the findings suggest that human milk interleukin-8 could potentially prepare the infant's immune system to respond effectively to various microorganisms, potentially promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and protecting against pathogens.