Work

Maternal periodontitis is associated with altered breast milk cytokines and reduced infant weight gain

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Maternal periodontitis is a prevalent inflammatory condition known to impact systemic health, yet its influence on breast milk composition and infant development remains underexplored. We conducted a prospective study of 36 mother-infant pairs, assessing maternal periodontal status, breast milk cytokine profiles, and infant weight gain at one month. Here we show that mothers with periodontitis exhibit elevated TNF-α levels in mature breast milk, which inversely correlate with early infant weight gain. In vitro, exposure of human intestinal epithelial cells to milk from periodontitis-affected mothers disrupted tight junction protein organization, reduced intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity, and increased epithelial permeability; these effects were partially reversed by TNF-α neutralization. These findings suggest that maternal periodontal inflammation may alter breast milk inflammatory signaling, potentially impairing neonatal intestinal barrier function and growth. This study supports a maternal oral-milk axis linking maternal oral health to postnatal intestinal homeostasis and early infant development.

Source: Research Square

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-11349156/v1

Authors: Sofia Passaponti, Mario Tortoriello, Massimo Viviano, Nicola Discepoli, Leonardo Ermini, Serena Nencini, Roberta Romagnoli, Laura Cresti, Martina Lombardi, Gabriella Tamasi, Flavia Bisozzi, Caterina Bocchi, Gabriele Centini, Francesca Ietta, Filiberto Maria Severi

Institution: University of Siena

Language: English

Topic: Infant Nutrition and Health

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7225757679

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: