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Variation in human milk composition is related to differences in milk and infant fecal microbial communities

Pace, Ryan M. ; Williams, Janet E. ; Robertson, Bianca ; Lackey, Kimberly A. ; Meehan, Courtney L. ; Price, William J. ; Foster, James A. ; Sellen, Daniel W. ; Kamau-Mbuthia, Elizabeth W. and Kamundia, Egidioh W. , et al. (2021) In Microorganisms 9(6).
Abstract

Previously published data from our group and others demonstrate that human milk oligosaccharide (HMOs), as well as milk and infant fecal microbial profiles, vary by geography. However, little is known about the geographical variation of other milk-borne factors, such as lactose and protein, as well as the associations among these factors and microbial community structures in milk and infant feces. Here, we characterized and contrasted concentrations of milk-borne lactose, protein, and HMOs, and examined their associations with milk and infant fecal microbiomes in samples collected in 11 geographically diverse sites. Although geographical site was strongly associated with milk and infant fecal microbiomes, both sample types assorted into... (More)

Previously published data from our group and others demonstrate that human milk oligosaccharide (HMOs), as well as milk and infant fecal microbial profiles, vary by geography. However, little is known about the geographical variation of other milk-borne factors, such as lactose and protein, as well as the associations among these factors and microbial community structures in milk and infant feces. Here, we characterized and contrasted concentrations of milk-borne lactose, protein, and HMOs, and examined their associations with milk and infant fecal microbiomes in samples collected in 11 geographically diverse sites. Although geographical site was strongly associated with milk and infant fecal microbiomes, both sample types assorted into a smaller number of community state types based on shared microbial profiles. Similar to HMOs, concentrations of lactose and protein also varied by geography. Concentrations of HMOs, lactose, and protein were associated with differences in the microbial community structures of milk and infant feces and in the abundance of specific taxa. Taken together, these data suggest that the composition of human milk, even when produced by relatively healthy women, differs based on geographical boundaries and that concentrations of HMOs, lactose, and protein in milk are related to variation in milk and infant fecal microbial communities.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bacteria, Breastmilk, Gastrointestinal tract, HMO, Human milk, Infant, Lactose, Microbiome, Oligosaccharides, Protein
in
Microorganisms
volume
9
issue
6
article number
1153
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • pmid:34072117
  • scopus:85106585862
ISSN
2076-2607
DOI
10.3390/microorganisms9061153
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the National Science Foundation IOS-BIO 1344288; the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain (AGL2013-4190-P); the European Commission (624773-FP-7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, to LR); and in part by National Institutes of Health NICHD R01-HD092297 and COBRE Phase III grant P30GM103324. Sterile, single-use milk collection kits were provided by Medela Inc.
id
69e79b28-7058-45c9-9d8c-300c26308723
date added to LUP
2021-06-10 14:34:18
date last changed
2024-07-13 14:46:16
@article{69e79b28-7058-45c9-9d8c-300c26308723,
  abstract     = {{<p>Previously published data from our group and others demonstrate that human milk oligosaccharide (HMOs), as well as milk and infant fecal microbial profiles, vary by geography. However, little is known about the geographical variation of other milk-borne factors, such as lactose and protein, as well as the associations among these factors and microbial community structures in milk and infant feces. Here, we characterized and contrasted concentrations of milk-borne lactose, protein, and HMOs, and examined their associations with milk and infant fecal microbiomes in samples collected in 11 geographically diverse sites. Although geographical site was strongly associated with milk and infant fecal microbiomes, both sample types assorted into a smaller number of community state types based on shared microbial profiles. Similar to HMOs, concentrations of lactose and protein also varied by geography. Concentrations of HMOs, lactose, and protein were associated with differences in the microbial community structures of milk and infant feces and in the abundance of specific taxa. Taken together, these data suggest that the composition of human milk, even when produced by relatively healthy women, differs based on geographical boundaries and that concentrations of HMOs, lactose, and protein in milk are related to variation in milk and infant fecal microbial communities.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pace, Ryan M. and Williams, Janet E. and Robertson, Bianca and Lackey, Kimberly A. and Meehan, Courtney L. and Price, William J. and Foster, James A. and Sellen, Daniel W. and Kamau-Mbuthia, Elizabeth W. and Kamundia, Egidioh W. and Mbugua, Samwel and Moore, Sophie E. and Prentice, Andrew M. and Kita, Debela G. and Kvist, Linda J. and Otoo, Gloria E. and Ruiz, Lorena and Rodríguez, Juan M. and Pareja, Rossina G. and McGuire, Mark A. and Bode, Lars and McGuire, Michelle K.}},
  issn         = {{2076-2607}},
  keywords     = {{Bacteria; Breastmilk; Gastrointestinal tract; HMO; Human milk; Infant; Lactose; Microbiome; Oligosaccharides; Protein}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{6}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Microorganisms}},
  title        = {{Variation in human milk composition is related to differences in milk and infant fecal microbial communities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9061153}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/microorganisms9061153}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}