[Science Update] Associations between HMOs and bacterial profile and their relationships with infant body composition

This pilot study investigated associations between human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and the predominant bacterial species found in human milk, as well as their relationships with body composition of three-month-old exclusively breastfed infants. Altogether, 60 dyads from the Breastfeeding Longitudinal Observational Study of Mothers and Kids (BLOSOM) in Australia were included in the analysis. Among the 60 mothers, 49 were secretors while 11 were non-secretors.

4 min read

Key findings

Bacterial and HMO composition

The most abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present in human milk samples: Streptococcus mitis (S. mitis), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) and Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes)
The most dominant HMOs in human milk samples: 2’-FL, 3-FL, LNT, LNFP-II and DFLNT
Secretors had substantially higher levels of 2’-FL, DFLac, LNnT, LNFP-I, LST c and DFLNT, while non-secretors had higher levels of 3-FL, LNT, LNFP-II, LST b, DFLNH and FDSLNH
Infants of secretors had significantly higher 24-hour intakes of 2’-FL, DFLac, LNnt, LNFP-I, LST c, DFLNT and LNH, while infants of non-secretors had higher intakes of 3-FL, LST b, LNFP-II, DFLNH and FDSLNH

Associations between maternal characteristics and HMO composition

Maternal anthropometry and body composition were positively associated with levels of 2’-FL and LNH, but the associations varied depending on maternal secretor status
- In secretors, adiposity was positively associated with 2’-FL and FLNH levels
- In non-secretors, adiposity was positively associated with 2’-FL and FLNH levels but negatively associated with 3’-SL

Associations between maternal characteristics and infant body composition

In secretors
- Positive associations were observed between maternal fat free mass (FFM) and infant length
In non-secretors
- Negative associations were observed between maternal FFM parameters and infant body composition

Associations between HMO concentration and human milk bacterial profile

Higher level of FLNH was associated with lower relative abundances of S. epidermidis and S. salivarius
Higher levels of LNFP-III, DSLNT, FDSLNH were associated with lower relative abundance of Veillonella nakazawae (V. nakazawae)
Higher levels of LNnT and DFLac were associated with higher relative abundances of C. acnes and Gemella haemolysans (G. haemolysans)
In secretors
- The associations between 3’-SL and S. epidermidis were negative
- The associations between DFLac and V. nakazawae were negative
In non-secretors
- Both positive and negative associations between HMOs and bacterial profile were observed

Associations between human milk bacterial profile and infant body composition

Regardless of maternal secretor status
- Higher relative abundances of S. epidermidis, Streptococcus parasanguinis (S. parasanguinis) and Streptococcus lactarius (S. lactarius) were associated with increased infant anthropometry, adiposity and FFM
- Negative association was observed between S. epidermidis and infant length
In secretors
- No associations observed
In non-secretors
- Negative association was observed between S. mitis and anthropometry
- Positive association was observed between S. parasanguinis and BMIAZ

Associations between HMO concentration and infant body composition

Regardless of maternal secretor status
- Higher levels of FLNH, LNnT and LNFP-III were negatively associated with infant anthropometry and body composition
- Higher level of DFLNH was positively associated with infant anthropometry and body composition
In secretors
- Positive association was observed between 3’-SL level and infant FFM
In non-secretors
- DFLNT level was positively associated with infant anthropometry and body composition
- FLNH level was negatively associated with infant anthropometry and body composition

Associations between HMO intake and infant body composition

Regardless of maternal secretor status
- 2’-FL, 3-FL, DFLac, DFLNH, DFLNT and LST b intakes were positively associated with infant body composition
In secretors
- Positive association was observed between 3’-SL intake and infant body composition
In non-secretors
- 6’-SL and FDSLNH intakes were negatively associated with infant body composition

Abbreviations
2’-FL = 2’-Fucosyllactose; 3-FL = 3-fucosyllactose; LNT = lacto-N-tetrose; LNFP-II = lacto-N-fucopentaose II; DFLNT = difucosyllacto-N-tetrose; DFLac = difucosyllactose; LNnT = lacto-N-neotetraose; LNFP-I = lacto-N-fucopentaose; LST c = sialyllacto-N-tetraose c; LST b = sialyllacto-N-tetraose b; DFLNH = difucosyllacto-N-tetraose; FDS-LNH = fucodisialylacto-N-hexaose; LNH = lacto-N-nexaose; FLNH = fucosyllacto-N-hexaose; 3’-SL = 3’-sialyllactose; LNFP-III = lacto-N-fucopentaose; DSLNT = disialyllacto-N-tetraose; 6’-SL = 6’-sialyllactose; BMIAZ = BMI-for-age z-scores

Link to the full article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8911220/pdf/ijms-23-02865.pdf

Reference:

Cheema AS et al. Human milk oligosaccharides and bacterial profile modulate infant body composition during exclusive breastfeeding. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(5):2865.