American researchers have found that a mother's diet and genetic makeup directly determine the molecular composition of breast milk, according to infohub.kz.
The study analyzed breast milk samples from 349 women about a month after childbirth. Researchers examined 458 different metabolites — products of metabolism. The results showed that nutrients entering the mother's body form a unique chemical profile of milk.
For instance, coffee consumption leads to the appearance of quinic acid and uric acid derivatives, while citrus fruits raise levels of proline betaine.
Among all factors studied, maternal diet showed the strongest link to the molecular composition of milk. Alcohol consumption was associated with lower levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate, a lipid important for a child's intestinal and immune development. At the same time, a healthy diet contributed to high levels of vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
Besides diet, the mother's genetics and gene activity in mammary gland cells also influence milk composition. Scientists identified nine specific genetic regions linked to metabolism in milk.
The authors emphasize that their study is observational and does not assess the direct impact of the identified compounds on children's health.