Next Article in Journal
Early Metabolomic Profiling as a Predictor of Renal Function Six Months After Kidney Transplantation
Next Article in Special Issue
Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Implications in Solid Organ Transplantation
Previous Article in Journal
Comparative Analysis of Blood Transfusion Accuracy and Hemolysis Rate of Transfusion Cartridge Set Between Conventional Infusion Pumps and Cylinder-Type Infusion Pumps
Previous Article in Special Issue
Causal Relationship Between Sjögren’s Syndrome and Gut Microbiota: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Biomedicines
Volume 12
Issue 11
10.3390/biomedicines12112423
biomedicines-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

The Influence of Maternal Lifestyle Factors on Human Breast Milk Microbial Composition: A Narrative Review

by
Irene Bianco
1,†,
Chiara Ferrara
1,†,
Francesca Romano
1,
Federica Loperfido
1,
Francesca Sottotetti
1,*,
Dana El Masri
1,
Alessandra Vincenti
1,
Hellas Cena
1,2,‡ and
Rachele De Giuseppe
1,‡
1
Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
2
Clinical Nutrition Unit, General Medicine, Istituti Clinici Scientifici (ICS) Maugeri, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 27100 Pavia, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
‡
These authors also contributed equally to this work.
Biomedicines 2024, 12(11), 2423; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112423
Submission received: 16 September 2024 / Revised: 17 October 2024 / Accepted: 18 October 2024 / Published: 22 October 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota, Diet, and Immunity: Investigating the Connections and Implications for Disease Development)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

Human breast milk (HBM) is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition due to its optimal nutrient profile and complex composition of cellular and non-cellular components. Breastfeeding positively influences the newborn’s gut microbiota and health, reducing the risk of conditions like gastrointestinal infections and chronic diseases (e.g., allergies, asthma, diabetes, and obesity). Research has revealed that HBM contains beneficial microbes that aid gut microbiota maturation through mechanisms like antimicrobial production and pathogen exclusion. The HBM microbiota composition can be affected by several factors, including gestational age, delivery mode, medical treatments, lactation stage, as well as maternal lifestyle habits (e.g., diet, physical activity, sleep quality, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress level). Particularly, lifestyle factors can play a significant role in shaping the HBM microbiota by directly modulating the microbial composition or influencing the maternal gut microbiota and influencing the HBM microbes through the enteromammary pathway. This narrative review of current findings summarized how maternal lifestyle influences HBM microbiota. While the influence of maternal diet on HBM microbiota is well-documented, indicating that dietary patterns, especially those rich in plant-based proteins and complex carbohydrates, can positively influence HBM microbiota, the impact of other lifestyle factors is poorly investigated. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and breastfeeding is crucial for the health of both mother and baby. Understanding how maternal lifestyle factors influence microbial colonization of HBM, along with their interactions and impact, is key to developing new strategies that support the beneficial maturation of the infant’s gut microbiota.
Keywords: human breast milk; microbiota; maternal dietary pattern; lifestyle; breastfeeding human breast milk; microbiota; maternal dietary pattern; lifestyle; breastfeeding
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Bianco, I.; Ferrara, C.; Romano, F.; Loperfido, F.; Sottotetti, F.; El Masri, D.; Vincenti, A.; Cena, H.; De Giuseppe, R. The Influence of Maternal Lifestyle Factors on Human Breast Milk Microbial Composition: A Narrative Review. Biomedicines 2024, 12, 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112423

AMA Style

Bianco I, Ferrara C, Romano F, Loperfido F, Sottotetti F, El Masri D, Vincenti A, Cena H, De Giuseppe R. The Influence of Maternal Lifestyle Factors on Human Breast Milk Microbial Composition: A Narrative Review. Biomedicines. 2024; 12(11):2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112423

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bianco, Irene, Chiara Ferrara, Francesca Romano, Federica Loperfido, Francesca Sottotetti, Dana El Masri, Alessandra Vincenti, Hellas Cena, and Rachele De Giuseppe. 2024. "The Influence of Maternal Lifestyle Factors on Human Breast Milk Microbial Composition: A Narrative Review" Biomedicines 12, no. 11: 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112423

APA Style

Bianco, I., Ferrara, C., Romano, F., Loperfido, F., Sottotetti, F., El Masri, D., Vincenti, A., Cena, H., & De Giuseppe, R. (2024). The Influence of Maternal Lifestyle Factors on Human Breast Milk Microbial Composition: A Narrative Review. Biomedicines, 12(11), 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112423

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop