Breast milk contains live bacteria (micro biota) that influence the health of the baby in the short, medium and long term. The diet rich in vegetable proteins and fiber is optimal for the diversity of this micro biota. A study has discovered how the mother’s diet affects the composition of breast milk, which in turn is decisive for the formation of the baby’s intestinal micro biota, according to scientists from the Institute of Agro chemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) of the Higher Council for Scientific Research in Valencia.
Data published in the Journal of Nutrition indicates that the intake of macronutrients and specific dietary nutrients such as fiber and polyphenols can influence the microbial communities present in human milk.
PLANT PROTEINS AND FIBER INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE MICROBIOTA
The researchers found that mothers who consume more plant protein and more foods rich in carbohydrates and fiber have a greater diversity of bacteria in their milk.
The research found a link between soluble and insoluble fiber and plant protein and the micro biota with an increased abundance of Staphylococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus.
Other families of bacteria are also found in breast milk, such as Streptococcus spp. the Veillonella, the Propionibacterium, Ralstonia, Gemella, lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium spp.
Furthermore, the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was related to the genus Streptococcus.
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“The relationship between the maternal diet and the micro biota of breast milk needs further investigation because it has a key impact on the development of the infant micro biota and contributes to short- and long-term health of children,” the authors of the article explain.
THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TYPE OF FOOD AND THE TYPE OF BACTERIA
Interest in the wide range of bioactive compounds found in human milk has intensified over the past decade, and academic and industry researchers are exploring the potential health benefits of, for example, oligosaccharides in human milk. (HMO) in the developing baby.
However, there is currently limited data on how the maternal diet can affect the composition of the micro biota of breast milk, explained the researchers, who set out to clarify this relationship.
The researchers analyzed 120 milk samples provided by healthy mothers and used food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to correlate dietary information with the micro biomes of breast milk.
The results showed that the maternal diet could be grouped into two groups:
- Group I was characterized by a high intake of vegetable protein, fiber and carbohydrates.
- Group II was characterized by a high intake of animal protein and lipids.
Analysis of the data clearly showed that the genus Bifidobacterium is associated with a high intake of polyphenols and that the genus Staphylococcus is related to carbohydrates.
PLANT POLYPHENOLS IMPROVE THE MICROBIOTA OF BREAST MILK
Although the relationship between polyphenols and the breast milk micro biota is poorly understood, several studies have suggested that dietary polyphenols have prebiotic properties and antimicrobial activities.
The researchers also found associations between the breast milk micro biota and the baby’s mode of delivery (vaginal versus cesarean section) and exposure to antibiotics.
In fact, women on a type II diet, who had delivered by cesarean section and had taken antibiotics had lower abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Sedimin ibacterium.
This finding suggests a complex interaction between different factors that affect the micro biota of breast milk.
