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Acidic Human Milk Oligosaccharides Vary Across Populations and Over Lactation
Author(s) -
Newburg David S,
Chen Ceng,
Cline Allison,
Morrow Ardythe L
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.275.5
Subject(s) - lactation , oligosaccharide , breast milk , zoology , breastfeeding , prebiotic , medicine , biology , chemistry , food science , pregnancy , biochemistry , pediatrics , genetics
Background Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS) inhibit pathogens, promote colonization through a prebiotic effect, and inhibit inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. The content of HMOS can vary qualitatively and quantitatively among individuals and over the course of lactation. Objective To compare the acidic HMOS composition of milk from mothers in Cincinnati, OH, Shanghai, China, and Mexico City, Mexico. Methods A total of 120 mothers per site were included, and 760 milk samples were analyzed by LC‐MS as part of the Global Exploration of Human Milk (GEHM) study. Eligibility required healthy, singleton, term delivery and > 75% of feedings from breast milk for at least 3 months. Milk samples were collected between 9AM–1PM at 2, 4, 13 and 26 wks postpartum using Medela Symphony breast pumps, and represented the contents of one breast that was not used for feeding for two hours prior to pumping. Results Total oligosaccharides decreased over lactation, from 5.8 (week 2) to 2.8 g/L (week 26, p<0.001). However, the most rapid decline in HMOS occurred in the acidic oligosaccharide fraction, from 2.4 (week 2) to 0.4 g/L (week 26, p<0.001). Milk from Shanghai was significantly lower than the other two sites in total HMOS (at 1 month: 4.1 vs 5.1 g/L, p<0.001). The most abundant individual acidic HMOS across the populations were 3′‐sialyllactose (3′SL), 6′‐sialyllactose (6′SL), and disialyllacto‐ N ‐tetraose (DSLNT). Comparing populations, 3′SL was higher (p<0.001), 6′SL was lower (p<0.001), and DSLNT was lower (p<0.001) in Mexican than Cincinnati or Shanghai mothers. The concentrations of 6′SL and DSLNT, but not of 3′SL, declined over the first 26 weeks of lactation. Conclusions Concentrations of acidic HMOS differ among populations, and change over the course of lactation. The biological ramifications of these differences warrant investigation. Support or Funding Information Supported in part by HD013021, HD059140, and Mead‐Johnson