Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production

Adequate milk production is key for optimal infant growth, yet women often wean due to perceived low milk production (LMP). Maternal adiposity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are known potential risk factors for LMP and may alter both hormonal and macronutrient composition of human milk. Thi...

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Main Authors: Xuehua Jin, Ching Tat Lai, Sharon L. Perrella, Jacki L. McEachran, Zoya Gridneva, Donna T. Geddes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/112/1/3
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author Xuehua Jin
Ching Tat Lai
Sharon L. Perrella
Jacki L. McEachran
Zoya Gridneva
Donna T. Geddes
author_facet Xuehua Jin
Ching Tat Lai
Sharon L. Perrella
Jacki L. McEachran
Zoya Gridneva
Donna T. Geddes
author_sort Xuehua Jin
collection DOAJ
description Adequate milk production is key for optimal infant growth, yet women often wean due to perceived low milk production (LMP). Maternal adiposity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are known potential risk factors for LMP and may alter both hormonal and macronutrient composition of human milk. This study aims to investigate the hormonal and macronutrient composition of human milk in relation to LMP, particularly in the context of maternal adiposity and GDM. Human milk samples were collected from 68 women with LMP and 160 women with normal milk production during 1–6 months postpartum. Of the 228 participants with the mean pre-pregnancy BMI of 26.3 ± 6.0 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, 80 (35.1%) had GDM. Concentrations of hormones (estrone, estradiol, progesterone, insulin, leptin, adiponectin) and macronutrients (fat, protein, lactose, glucose) were measured and compared between the two groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for potential confounders such as maternal body mass index (BMI) and GDM, to assess the relationships between hormone and macronutrient concentrations, and milk production. Preliminary analyses indicated that higher concentrations of estrone (<i>p</i> < 0.001), leptin (<i>p</i> = 0.009), insulin (<i>p</i> = 0.002), protein (<i>p</i> = 0.012), and lactose (<i>p</i> = 0.004) were associated with LMP. After adjusting for maternal BMI and GDM in the univariable models, all of these associations remained, and progesterone (<i>p</i> = 0.045) also emerged as positively associated with LMP. In multivariable regression, followed by stepwise model selection, estrone (<i>p</i> < 0.001), protein (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lactose (<i>p</i> = 0.015) demonstrated the strongest associations with LMP, with maternal BMI also contributing significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.010). The findings suggest that hormone and macronutrient concentrations in human milk may reflect LMP status and provide insights into the underlying biological mechanisms associated with LMP.
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spelling doaj-art-4fcd0ba7f572473dbec8c90b385d2bf62025-08-20T02:42:29ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002024-12-011121310.3390/proceedings2025112003Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk ProductionXuehua Jin0Ching Tat Lai1Sharon L. Perrella2Jacki L. McEachran3Zoya Gridneva4Donna T. Geddes5School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaAdequate milk production is key for optimal infant growth, yet women often wean due to perceived low milk production (LMP). Maternal adiposity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are known potential risk factors for LMP and may alter both hormonal and macronutrient composition of human milk. This study aims to investigate the hormonal and macronutrient composition of human milk in relation to LMP, particularly in the context of maternal adiposity and GDM. Human milk samples were collected from 68 women with LMP and 160 women with normal milk production during 1–6 months postpartum. Of the 228 participants with the mean pre-pregnancy BMI of 26.3 ± 6.0 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, 80 (35.1%) had GDM. Concentrations of hormones (estrone, estradiol, progesterone, insulin, leptin, adiponectin) and macronutrients (fat, protein, lactose, glucose) were measured and compared between the two groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for potential confounders such as maternal body mass index (BMI) and GDM, to assess the relationships between hormone and macronutrient concentrations, and milk production. Preliminary analyses indicated that higher concentrations of estrone (<i>p</i> < 0.001), leptin (<i>p</i> = 0.009), insulin (<i>p</i> = 0.002), protein (<i>p</i> = 0.012), and lactose (<i>p</i> = 0.004) were associated with LMP. After adjusting for maternal BMI and GDM in the univariable models, all of these associations remained, and progesterone (<i>p</i> = 0.045) also emerged as positively associated with LMP. In multivariable regression, followed by stepwise model selection, estrone (<i>p</i> < 0.001), protein (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lactose (<i>p</i> = 0.015) demonstrated the strongest associations with LMP, with maternal BMI also contributing significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.010). The findings suggest that hormone and macronutrient concentrations in human milk may reflect LMP status and provide insights into the underlying biological mechanisms associated with LMP.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/112/1/3human milkbreast milklactationmilk productionhormonesmacronutrients
spellingShingle Xuehua Jin
Ching Tat Lai
Sharon L. Perrella
Jacki L. McEachran
Zoya Gridneva
Donna T. Geddes
Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production
Proceedings
human milk
breast milk
lactation
milk production
hormones
macronutrients
title Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production
title_full Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production
title_fullStr Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production
title_full_unstemmed Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production
title_short Hormonal and Macronutrient Profiles in Human Milk Among Women with Low Milk Production
title_sort hormonal and macronutrient profiles in human milk among women with low milk production
topic human milk
breast milk
lactation
milk production
hormones
macronutrients
url https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/112/1/3
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AT sharonlperrella hormonalandmacronutrientprofilesinhumanmilkamongwomenwithlowmilkproduction
AT jackilmceachran hormonalandmacronutrientprofilesinhumanmilkamongwomenwithlowmilkproduction
AT zoyagridneva hormonalandmacronutrientprofilesinhumanmilkamongwomenwithlowmilkproduction
AT donnatgeddes hormonalandmacronutrientprofilesinhumanmilkamongwomenwithlowmilkproduction