Full text

Turn on search term navigation

© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background: Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) serve as critical bioactive components supporting infant growth and development. However, the influence of maternal metabolic factors during lactation on HMOs remains to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal metabolic factors and HMOs, as well as the potential mediating effects of these factors. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Central South China, enrolling 196 lactating mothers. HMOs were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Maternal metabolic factors were assessed through physical examinations. Associations between metabolic factors and HMOs were analyzed using linear regression, and mediation effects were evaluated. Results: HMOs from Central South China were predominantly composed of neutral fucosylated HMOs. Significant differences were observed in the levels of several HMOs across maternal age groups and lactation periods. The concentration of 3′-sialyllactose (3′-SL) exhibited a negative association with the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (β = −0.16, 95% CI: −0.29, −0.03; p = 0.02), while a positive association was found with maternal heart rate (β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.27; p = 0.04). However, these associations were different between secretor and non-secretor mothers. Associations of 3′-SL with pre-pregnancy BMI and maternal HR were only found in the secretor mothers. Triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol mediated the associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and 3′-sialyllactose (3′-SL). Conclusions: The variations of several HMOs among mothers from Central South China were associated with maternal age and lactation period. The concentration of 3′-SL was negatively correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. The potential mechanism underlying the influence of maternal BMI on 3′-SL levels may involve maternal lipid metabolism and genetic factors.

Details

Title
Impact of Maternal Metabolic Status on Human Milk Oligosaccharide Composition: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Central South China
Author
Huang, Zhi 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Luo Shurong 2 ; Li, Yuxin 3 ; Li, Ziming 4 ; Chuanzhu, Yi 4 ; Zhang, Yan 1 ; Hu, Yuming 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Chen, Bo 2 

 School of Medical Laboratory, Hunan University of Medicine, Jinxi Road No. 492, Huaihua 418000, China; [email protected] (Z.H.); [email protected] (Y.Z.) 
 School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Hunan Normal University, Lu Mountain Road No. 286, Changsha 410081, China; [email protected] 
 Hunan Institute for Drug Control, Jinxing Middle Road No. 469, Yuelu District, Changsha 410001, China; [email protected] 
 The Department of Toxicology, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xinglian Road No. 861, Laodaohe Street, Kaifu District, Changsha 410005, China; [email protected] (Z.L.); [email protected] (C.Y.) 
First page
1480
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20726643
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3203217539
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.