Host and environmental determinants of human milk oligosaccharides and microbiota in the Lifelines NEXT cohort
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Human milk is important for infant development, but few large studies have comprehensively investigated milk composition. Here, we characterized human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and milk microbiota, their shaping factors, and their links to infant gut microbiota in the longitudinal Dutch Lifelines NEXT cohort. We measured 24 HMOs in 1,542 milk samples from 524 mothers at 0.5-6 months postpartum, profiled microbiota in milk and maternal and infant feces, genotyped mothers, and recorded 174 environmental, maternal, and infant characteristics. HMO concentrations were associated with maternal genetic loci (FUT2, FUT3/FUT6, ABO, and ST3GAL6), lactation stage, and subclinical mastitis. The human milk microbiota varied during lactation and with different feeding practices. Both HMOs and milk microbiota remained stable across multiple pregnancies in the same individual. Some milk bacteria were present in infant feces, but the milk and infant fecal microbiota diverged as the infant aged. Furthermore, individual HMOs were associated with infant fecal microbiota characteristics.
Source: Cell Reports
Authors: Johanne E. Spreckels, Alexander Kurilshikov, Asier Fernández-Pato, Fan Liu, Siobhan Brushett, Corinna Bang, Daria V. Zhernakova, Marloes Kruk, Trishla Sinha, Sanzhima Garmaeva, Milla F. Brandao Gois, Esteban A. Lopera-Maya, Laura A. Bolte, Soesma A. Jankipersadsing, Andre Franke, Hanne L.P. Tytgat, Sara Colombo Mottaz, Jingyuan Fu, Сyrus A. Mallon, Sander S. van Leeuwen, Ranko Gacesa, Alexandra Zhernakova
Language: English
Topic: Infant Nutrition and Health
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,620
Funders: Emory University, Health~Holland, Stichting De Cock-Hadders, International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, China Scholarship Council, Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, European Research Council
Awards: G1074817112, G1284359033, G144351792, G2184703199, Netherlands Organ-on-Chip Initiative, Early life immune-microbiome interactions in allergic diseases, G3387046354, Decoding the human genome and metagenome in cardiometabolic diseases, G4053523688, G434927953, G4533344438, G5044886605, G5401360040, G5567599629, G7188900320, G8455415045
OpenAlex ID: W4413100451