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Maternal Factors and Human Milk Oligosaccharide Composition in the CHILD Cohort
Author(s) -
Robertson Bianca Marie,
Bode Lars,
Sharma Atul K.,
Becker Allan B.,
Mandhane Piushkumar J.,
Subbarao Padmaja,
Turvey Stuart E.,
Lefebvre Diana L.,
Sears Malcolm R.,
Azad Meghan B.
Publication year - 2017
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.31.1_supplement.650.36
Subject(s) - interquartile range , medicine , lactation , breast milk , breastfeeding , parity (physics) , cohort , breast feeding , pregnancy , zoology , physiology , biology , pediatrics , biochemistry , genetics , physics , particle physics
Rationale Accumulating evidence suggests that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) impact infant health. However, which maternal factors influence HMO composition is largely unknown. Methods We analyzed 427 breast milk samples from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study by rapid high‐throughput HPLC to determine associations between HMO composition and maternal age, ethnicity, parity, secretor blood group status, method of delivery and milk collection time postpartum. Milk samples were collected at 4 months postpartum (median 16 weeks, interquartile range 14–19 weeks). Spearman correlations, t‐tests and multivariable linear regression were used to evaluate relationships between HMO composition and maternal factors. Results Maternal secretor blood group status, lactation time postpartum, and parity were significantly and independently associated with total HMO concentration. Secretor mothers, expressing an active FUT2 gene, had increased levels of total HMOs when compared to non‐secretors (mean 15,908 ± 1,513 vs. 8.935 ± 2,796 nmol/mL, p<0.001). Non‐secretor status was more common among Asian vs. Caucasian mothers (40% vs. 26%, p=0.04). Total HMO level decreased with increasing time postpartum (adjusted b: −66 nmol/L per week; 95%CI −113, −19; p=0.006), although some individual HMOs increased, including: 3′‐fucosyllactose (3′FL, Spearman r = +0.15), 3′‐sialyllactose (3′SL, +0.18), lacto‐N‐fucopentaose‐III (LNFPIII, +0.12), and especially disialyllacto‐N‐tetraose (DSLNT, +0.28) (all p<0.02). Furthermore, total HMO levels increased with parity (adjusted b: +529 nmol/mL per child; 95%CI 173, 884; p<0.01). In contrast, maternal age and method of delivery were not significantly associated with total HMO level. Conclusion Our data suggest that both genetic and non‐genetic maternal factors influence HMO composition. Whether these associations have implications for infant health remains to be investigated. Support or Funding Information This study was funded by Research Manitoba and supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Allergy, Genes and Environment Network of Centres of Excellence.