Components of human breast milk: from macronutrient to microbiome and microRNA

Article information

Clin Exp Pediatr. 2020;63(8):301-309

Publication date (electronic) : 2020 March 23

doi : https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2020.00059

Su Yeong Kim, MD¹, Dae Yong Yi, MD, PhD^,1,2

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

²College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Dae Yong Yi, MD. Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06973, Korea E-mail: meltemp2@cau.ac.kr

Received 2020 January 7; Revised 2020 March 16; Accepted 2020 March 19.

Abstract

Introduction

Human breast milk (HBM) is essential for the infant’s growth and development right after birth and is an irreplaceable source of nutrition for early human survival [1,2]. For this reason, the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund recommend exclusive HBM feeding for at least 6 months after birth and to continue for up to 2 years of age or beyond [3-5]. In recent years, various infant formulas have been developed for greater similarity to HBM and are being supplemented with breast milk-specific ingredients, such as human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) [6-8]. Although these formulas are similar to HBM in terms of many components, there is no perfect substitute for HBM [9]. This makes it imperative to discuss the components that make HBM more suitable than infant formulas for humans. Many studies to date have revealed nutritional components, such as various macronutrients and micronutrients, in HBM and have studied about its immunologic components. In addition, recently, various HBM components and their roles have been studied with the implementation of various analysis techniques, such as next-generation sequencing. In this article, we will explore the various components of HBM. A better understanding of these HBM components will help in various aspects, such as imparting lactation education and encouraging better feeding habits, as well as in the treatment of high-risk infants, such as those with premature birth, infections, neurological diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Nutrient composition in HBM

1. Macronutrients

As is already well known, HBM contains about 87%–88% water, and it has a specific gravity of 1.030, osmolarity of about 286 mOsm/L, and 124-g/L solid components as macronutrients, including about 7% (60–70 g/L) carbohydrates, 1% (8–10 g/L) protein, and 3.8% (35–40 g/L) fat [10-13] (Table 1). Typically, mature milk contains 65–70 kcal per 100 mL of energy, and about 50% of the total calorie supply is fat and 40% is carbohydrates [14]. However, unlike infant formulas, which have a narrow range of composition guidelines based on strict criteria for health effects on infants, the nutrient composition of HBM is dynamic for various reasons [14-16]. The composition of HBM may vary depending on the maternal diet, mammary gland physiology, maternal health, and many other environmental factors [13,14]. In addition, it may vary depending on prematurity, on whether it is foremilk or hindmilk, and on whether it is colostrum, transitional milk, or mature milk [17]. It may vary depending on the processing conditions, such as storage, pasteurization, and containers [18,19]. In the case of foremilk released by the mammary gland, the fat content is relatively low and increases with feeding, whereas hindmilk has higher fat content. The protein and lactose contents are not significantly different between them. Colostrum is low in fat but high in protein (10%) and is relatively rich in immune-protective components, such as immunoglobulin A (IgA) and lactoferrin, which help prevent neonatal infections.

Table 1.

Energy and macronutrient composition of human breast milk and proposed composition recommended in cow milk formula

1) Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the most prominent macronutrient in HBM and plays an important role in infant’s nutrition, in developing the physiological function of the entire gastrointestinal tract right from birth, and in maintaining the composition of the intestinal microbiota [20,21]. Most humans ingest carbohydrates in the form of glucose, whereas infants, who have not yet developed the gastrointestinal tract, ingest carbohydrates in the form of lactose. Thus, lactose is the major carbohydrate constituent of HBM and is the most abundant nutrient in breast milk. Lactose is digested by lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, also called lactase, which is present on the apical surface of enterocytes in the small intestinal brush border; lactose is readily digested in almost all infants [12]. However, the lack of enzymes can cause various symptoms, such as lactose intolerance or malabsorption. Unlike protein and fat, colostrum contains relatively fairly constant lactose with time [15,22]. A constant level of lactose is important for maintaining a constant osmotic pressure in HBM. In addition, carbohydrate-based bioactive components, such as oligosaccharides, are attached to lactose; this aids in the absorption of minerals and calcium [15]. The levels of free glucose and other glucose metabolites in HBM are low; thus, their nutritional significance is negligible in infants [23].

Highly complex HMOs are the second most abundant carbohydrate in HBM after lactose and the third most abundant solid component [24,25]. HMOs make up about 20% of the total HBM carbohydrates and are present in a concentration of 12–14 g/L in mature milk and >20 g/L in colostrum [24]. Known as “gynolactose” by L'espagnol and Plinowski in the 1930s, more than 150 HMO structures have been described to date [26]. Interest in HMOs has been increasing in recent years not only for the nutrition of infants but also for commercial purposes. HMOsare produced only in lactating mammary glands, which are not found in infant formulas, but recently, various types of oligosaccharides have been added to infant formulas [6,7]. Immediately after birth, the gut is sterile, but to prevent various infections after birth, the infant intestine must adapt to various circumstances and acquire an immune system. While direct ingestion of various bioactive compounds in HBM affects immunity, acquisition of intestinal colonization as an antimicrobial factor is also important [27]. Unlike lactose, which is easily digested, HMOs reache the colon in almost intact form due to their limited digestion; HMOs are known to play an important prebiotic role in the development of gut microbiota in early stages after birth [28]. In various previous studies, HMOs have been shown to reduce the duration of diarrhea and have a positive effect on the growth of bifidobacteria [29-33]. They also play an important role as an energy source for enterocytes and are associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are key signaling molecules for maintaining gut health [28]. These short-chain fatty acids are known to inhibit the growth of potentially harmful gut microbiota by reducing intestinal pH [34]. In addition to this indirect role, some HMOs are thought to be involved in various systemic circulations to regulate direct immune responses [28]. In various studies of human infants, on comparing HMOs and infant formulas, the former also showed positive effects against infections, such as campylobacter. However, various studies are being conducted because much research on infant health is still lacking.

2) Protein

Protein is a major component that functions and organizes all cells in the human body, and sufficient protein supply is essential for growth, development, and function. The protein of HBM comprises a mixture of whey and casein, and various peptides. Casein is micellar and is present in the form of clots or curd in the stomach and is not easily dissolved. Whey is in liquid form and is easy to digest [14]. The whey/casein ratio varies according to the time of breast milk. In colostrum, the whey/casein ratio is absolutely high at almost 90:10, but this gradually changes to 60:40 in mature milk. Nevertheless, the proportion of whey is relatively higher in HBM than in infant formula, wherein it is about 20% [11,35]. Casein exists as alpha, beta, gamma, and kappa casein. Alpha casein is abundant in bovine milk and is rarely present in HBM [13,36]. Casein of HBM is more easily digested in the form of looser micelles and softer curd by carboxypeptidase, which regulates intestinal motility and aids calcium absorption. Lönnerdal et al. [37] reported that low casein proportion in HBM is associated with slower growth in breastfed infants. Representative whey proteins of HBM are alpha-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and secretory IgA [14]. Among these, alpha-lactalbumin constitutes 40% of the whey protein of HBM, but beta-lactoglobulin is the representative whey protein of bovine milk and is absent in HBM [37]. Alpha-lactalbumin aids in the synthesis of lactose in mammary glands and in the supply of essential amino acids and absorption of minerals and trace elements in infants [38]. It also plays a role in the immune system and antibacterial properties. Lactoferrin and lysozyme inhibit the spread of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and IgA protects intestinal mucosa and destroys bacteria [14].

Protein content in HBM at birth is about 14–16 g/L, but decreases to 8–10 g/L after 3–4 months of birth and further decreases to 7–8 g/L after 6 months [11,15]. The protein concentration of HBM is not significantly affected by maternal diet but increases with maternal body weight for height [14]. In HBM, nonprotein nitrogen is present in about 20%–25% of HBM protein, which is a higher rate than 5% in bovine milk [13,36,39]. Nearly 50% of this is urea nitrogen, which is used to synthesize nonessential amino acids [39].

3) Fat

In HBM, fat is the second largest macronutrient and plays the most important role in the nutrient supply in infants (nearly 50% of the total energy content) and the development of the central nervous system [15]. Colostrum contains 15–20 g/L of fat, but this amount gradually increases, and mature milk contains almost 40 g/L. Its levels are 2–3 times higher in hindmilk than in foremilk [40]. The major component of HBM fatty acid is triglyceride (about 95%–98%), and it also contains 2 essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid [11]. Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are precursors of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) respectively, the latter is further converted to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and cannot be synthesized in the human body. In addition, they are important for inflammatory responses, immune function, and growth as components required in the production of in vivo signal transduction and coponents of the nervous system and retina [15]. Fats in HBM are more easily digested and absorbed than those in infant formulas due to the presence of bile salt-stimulated lipases that complement pancreatic lipases and the presence of palmitic acid at the sn-2 position of human milk triglycerides [41]. This positional preference is not well confirmed in infant formulas and affects plasma lipid profile in infants, including cholesterol concentration [25].

Fat content in HBM is closely related to maternal diet and weight gain during pregnancy; in addition, there are regional differences in food intake [15]. The consumption of foods such as breads, snacks, fast foods, and margarines by lactating mothers can cause trans fatty acids to be found in HBM and may account for up to 7.7% of total fatty acids [42]. Trans fatty acid concentrations vary from region to region, and they have adverse effects on infant growth and development and are inversely related to linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acids [42,43]. Arachidonic acid also correlates with arachidonic acid-rich food intake from lactating mothers, and EPA and DHA are also closely related [44,45]. Therefore, vegetarians have very low levels of DHA in their milk because of the lack of fish or other foods in their diet [46]. Therefore, it is recommended to take up to 300 mg of DHA per day to maintain sufficient amount of DHA in breast milk [47].

2. Vitamins and minerals

Although HBM is influenced by the diet in lactating women, in most cases, it contains enough vitamins to ensure normal growth of the infant [15]. However, vitamins D and K may be insufficient in infants who are exclusively breastfeeding and may require supplementation. Vitamin D is influenced by sun exposure as well as the maternal diet, which is related to climate, season, latitude, skin color, and life style. HBM typically contains less than 1 mg or less than 40 IU/L of vitamin D, which is not sufficient to meet the needs of infants. Breastfed infants can receive vitamin D from HBM synthesized by sunlight exposure in lactating mothers or stored during pregnancy. However, the stored vitamin D is rapidly depleted in infants. The Korean Nutritional Society and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend lactating mothers and infants to take vitamin D supplements of 200–400 IU per day in maintenance doses and 2,000 IU/day in deficiency [48,49]. Vitamin K is also transferred from mother to fetus in limited amounts, so newborn infants can be deficient in vitamin K. Therefore, vitamin K supplementation is recommended after birth [15,50]. Water soluble vitamins are also greatly affected by maternal status [51]. In general, mothers who do not have enough diet may be deficient in vitamins B6, B12, and folate but may still have relatively sufficient thiamin and riboflavin content [51]. More than 20 minerals, including iron, copper, and zinc, have been identified in HBM, most of which are abundant in colostrum and decrease as lactation progresses [52]. Unlike vitamins, most minerals are not significantly affected by the maternal status and do not vary greatly with maternal supplements [13-15,53] (Table 2). The mineral content is lower in HBM than in infant formulas, but due to their high bioavailability, no additional supplementation is required during full breastfeeding. In particular, iron content is 0.5–1.0 mg/L in colostrum and 0.3–0.7 mg/L in mature milk, but its bioavailability is 20%–50%, which is more effective than in infant formula (4%–7%). Therefore, in exclusively breastfed infants, it is generally not necessary to supply iron before 4–6 months of age, and then, it is recommended to supply gradually through iron-enriched solid foods.

Table 2.

Micronutrient composition of human breast milk and proposed composition recommended in cow milk formula

4. Hormones and growth factos in HBM

Hormones and growth factors in HBM also serve as various bioactive proteins and peptides [60]. Functions of hormones in HBM, including parathyroid hormone, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, apelin, nesfatin-1, obestatin, and adiponectin, and their effects in infants are not yet well known. Conversely, many growth factors have been studied relatively more and are known to have various effects on the intestinal tract, vasculature, nervous system, and endocrine system [14] (Table 3). Epidermal growth factors play a critical role in intestinal maturation and repair. Their levels in colostrum are 2,000 times higher than in mature milk and decrease with lactation [14,61]. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor act on the enteric nervous system and are necessary for the development of immature intestine in infants [62]. These neuronal growth factors, including ciliary neurotrophic factor, are found in HBM for up to 90 days after birth [63-65]. Among the neuronal growth factors, S100B is higher in mature milk than in colostrum [66]. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF-2 are abundant in colostrum and decrease with lactation; their levels are not significantly different between preterm and term milk, except for IGF-binding protein-2 among in the IGF superfamily [67-69]. IGF is taken up in its bioactive form by the intestine and transported to the blood system [70,71]. IGF-1 plays a role in the survival of enterocytes by protecting them against intestinal damage caused by oxidative stress; furthermore, it stimulates erythropoiesis and helps increase hematocrit [70,72]. Vascular endothelial growth factor and its antagonists are thought to help regulate angiogenesis and reduce damage to the retinopathy of prematurity [14,73]. The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factors is higher in colostrum in both preterm and term and lower in preterm milk than in term milk [74]. Erythropoietin plays a primary role in the increase of red blood cells and is thought to help prevent anemia of prematurity [75,76]. It also plays a role in tightening intestinal junctions and may help reduce the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis [76,77]. Adiponectin is found in large amounts in breast milk, which crosses the intestinal barrier and regulates metabolism and inhibits inflammation [78,79].

Table 3.

Growth factors in human breast milk and their functions

Microbiome in HBM

Just 20 years ago, HBM of a healthy mother was thought to be sterile according to culture-based studies [80]. The bacteria in the HBM were thought to be contaminants or pathogens, particularly the cause of mastitis. In a culture-based study conducted in 2003, Martin et al. [81] proved for the first time that HBM was a significant source of lactic acid bacteria for the infant gut. They found DNA profiles of lactic acid bacteria from HBM to be different from those in mother’s skin [81]. In the same year, Heikkila and Saris [82] also performed a culture-based study and reported that HBM of healthy mothers contains commensal bacteria. They concluded that an infant consuming about 800 mL of HBM per day ingests 8×10⁴–10⁶ commensal bacteria. Several subsequent studies have confirmed the presence of microbiota in HBM [83-86]. Recently, the development of a nonculture sequencing technique has made way for a changed perception that there are rich and diverse microbial communities in HBM [87] and that they play an important role in the formation of infant gut microbiota [88].

In 2011, Hunt et al. [85] reported in a first study using next-generation sequencing for this examination that there is a core HBM microbiome of 9 bacterial genera. These 9 core bacteria were present in every sample and represented about half of the microbial community. Various subsequent studies have examined the core bacteriome of HBM, but there was a difference in results [85,89,90]. These differences may be due to methodological differences among the studies, but several common bacterial genera, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Propionibacterium, have been reported. Fitzstevens et al. [87] performed a systematic review of studies using culture-independent methods. They suggested that the genera Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are universally predominant in HBM, regardless of differences in geographic location or analytic methods. A recent systematic review by Togo et al. [91] confirmed a high diversity of human milk microbiota with 820 species. The most of the frequently detected species were facultative anaerobic or strictly aerobic bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Cutibacterium acnes, Enterococcus faecalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Salmonella enterica.

The origin of HBM microbiota is still controversial. In an earlier study, Martin et al. [81] suggested that bacteria present in HBM may have an endogenous origin because of the difference between the bacterial DNA profiles of HBM and those of other areas. A recent hypothesis called “enteromammary pathway” states that maternal gut microbiota penetrate the intestinal epithelium, move to the mammary glands, and colonize the infant gut via milk consumption [80,92]. Urbaniak et al. [93] determined that the human breast tissue microbiota and HBM microbiota shared several bacterial genera. Another possible hypothesis is that HBM microbiota comes from mother’s skin or infant’s oral cavity. Ramsay et al. [94] reported using ultrasound imaging that there is a high degree of retrograde flow of milk from the infants’ mouth back into the mammary ducts. This suggests that commensal bacteria from the skin or mouth can enter the mammary duct during breastfeeding.

Several studies have proved the vertical transmission of maternal bacteria to the infant’s gut with HBM feeding [81,88,95-97]. HBM microbiota have been shown to influence the gut colonization and play a role in immunomodulation and endogenous metabolism. A better understanding of HBM microbiota will make it possible to clarify the effect of HBM on short- and longterm human health outcomes and improve them.

MicroRNAs of HBM

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small noncoding RNA with 18 to 25 nucleotides; it is found in plants, animals, and viruses, among others. It acts as a core regulator at the posttranscriptional level and is known to be involved in the development, differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism of cells and tissues [98-101]. Tens of thousands of these miRNAs are currently known, and many studies are being conducted to understand the pathophysiology of various diseases, including cancer, through miRNAs. Extracellular miRNAs are used as ideal biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases, including cell-cell communication. Milk is the most abundant body fluid of RNAs and miRNAs and is known to play a role in various aspects of the infant's immune system via miRNAs delivered through HBM [102-104]. There are almost 1,400 different species of mature miRNAs in HBM, which vary depending on the test method and research, between colostrum and mature milk, and among milk cell, milk lipid, and milk exosomes [105-107]. MiRNAs in HBM are synthesized in mammary glands and are present in milk as free molecules and packaged in vesicles, such as milk exosomes and fat globules [105,106]. These are thought to be transported to the infant’s intestine through lactation; these remain intact in the degradative conditions of the infant's gastrointestinal system and are absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells [104]. Then, they appear to reach various tissues and organs through the bloodstream and perform various functions, such as immunoprotection and developmental programming [104]. Although miRNAs are also found in high concentrations in animal milk, the infant formula contains few human mature miRNA species which are expressed at much lower levels than in HBM [107]. MiRNAs are also stable in conditions, such as acidic environments, RNase treatment, and freezing compared to HBM fractions; however, they decompose in the presence of detergents or bacterial fermentation [104,105].

Conclusion

With the development of various technologies, humans have been able to replace much of what is available in nature. HBM for infants has also been attempted to be replaced by various artificial milk types. Nevertheless, there is no perfect replacement for HBM yet. Macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins (including immunologic components), fats, various micronutrients, and vitamins, trophic factors, as well as microbiome and miRNA are in the spotlight recently; these are the components of HBM available only in humans and only through lactating mothers, thus making them diverse and irreplaceable. Many of these components and their association with infant growth and development and human health have not been properly elucidated and are being actively studied. However, taken together, as the various components of HBM are best suited for optimal early human growth and development, it remains unchanged that HBM from a lactating mother who is maintaining a balanced diet is the most desirable nutrition for infants.

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