Higher Leptin but Not Human Milk Macronutrient Concentration Distinguishes Normal-Weight from Obese Mothers at 1-Month Postpartum

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 22;11(12):e0168568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168568. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Introduction: Exclusively breastfed infants born to obese mothers have previously been shown to gain less weight by 1-month postpartum than infants of normal-weight mothers. Our hypothesis is that human milk composition and volume may differ between obese and normal-weight mothers.

Objective: To compare human milk leptin, macronutrient concentration, and volume in obese and normal-weight mothers. Mother and infant characteristics were studied as secondary aims.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional observational study compared 50 obese mothers matched for age, parity, ethnic origin, and educational level with 50 normal-weight mothers. Leptin, macronutrient human milk concentration, and milk volume were determined at 1 month in exclusively breastfed infants. Mother characteristics and infant growth were recorded.

Results: Human milk leptin concentration was higher in obese mothers than normal-weight mothers (4.8±2.7 vs. 2.5±1.5 ng.mL-1, p<0.001). No difference was observed between obese and normal-weight mothers in protein, lipid, carbohydrate content, and volume, nor in infant weight gain.

Conclusion: Leptin concentration was higher in the milk of obese mothers than that of normal-weight mothers, but macronutrient concentration was not. It remains to be established whether the higher leptin content impacts on infant growth beyond the 1-month of the study period.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Weight
  • Breast Feeding
  • Carbohydrates / analysis*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child Development
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leptin / metabolism*
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Male
  • Milk, Human / metabolism*
  • Mothers
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Postpartum Period
  • Pregnancy
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Weight Gain*

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Leptin
  • Lipids
  • Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the regional hospital program for clinical research of Western France (PHRC interregional Grand-Ouest; B91049-20). The funder had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article.