Early consumption of human milk oligosaccharides is inversely related to subsequent risk of respiratory and enteric disease in infants

Breastfeed Med. 2006 Winter;1(4):207-15. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2006.1.207.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Feeding
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / immunology
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / prevention & control
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Female
  • Fermentation
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / immunology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Milk, Human / chemistry*
  • Milk, Human / immunology*
  • Oligosaccharides* / administration & dosage
  • Oligosaccharides* / analysis
  • Oligosaccharides* / immunology
  • Prevalence
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / immunology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / prevention & control
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Oligosaccharides