Early consumption of human milk oligosaccharides is inversely related to subsequent risk of respiratory and enteric disease in infants.
A pilot study tested the relationship between human milk oligosaccharide consumption, oligosaccharide content of feces, and subsequent disease in breastfed infants. Forty-nine (49) mother-infant pairs provided milk and fecal samples 2 weeks postpartum; infant health was assessed through 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. LNF-II (lacto-N-fucopentaose II), a major human milk oligosaccharide, was measured to represent levels of total oligosaccharides consumed in milk and remaining in feces. LNF-II levels in milk at 2 weeks postpartum were associated with fewer infant respiratory problems by 6 weeks (p = 0.010), as were LNF-II levels in infant feces (p = 0.003). LNF-II levels in milk at 2 weeks were also associated with fewer respiratory problems by 12 weeks (p = 0.038), and fewer enteric problems by 6 weeks (p = 0.004) and 12 weeks (p = 0.045). Thus, consumption of human milk oligosaccharides through breastfeeding, represented by LNF-II, was associated with less reported respiratory and gastrointestinal illness in infants.
University of Wyoming, School of Nursing, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.
Mary Beth Flanders
MB
Stepans
Susan L
SL
Wilhelm
Melody
M
Hertzog
T Kim Callahan
TK
Rodehorst
Susan
S
Blaney
Beth
B
Clemens
Josef J
JJ
Polak
David S
DS
Newburg
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D009844:Oligosaccharides