Maternal Nutrition and Infant Health: Unpacking the Role of Human Milk Oligosaccharides

A Latvian cohort study has linked maternal diet and supplements to measurable shifts in breast milk oligosaccharides.

In 68 exclusively breastfeeding women, pooled 24‑hour milk collections and 72‑hour food diaries were analyzed by targeted UHPLC/FLD to quantify human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), revealing associations between maternal dairy avoidance, supplement patterns, and HMO variation.

Quantitative profiling identified 2'-FL as the most abundant HMO (median ≈3,647 mg·L−1). Dairy limitation or exclusion correlated with higher 2'-FL concentrations (p≈0.04). Targeted UHPLC measurements and nonparametric comparisons linked dietary choices (dairy avoidance, preference for zero‑sugar products) to shifts across multiple HMO species.

The investigators reported lower-than‑recommended intakes of vegetables, fruits, dairy, and fish, with probable shortfalls in vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, and iodine for some mothers. Three‑day food diaries and nutrient computations showed median intakes below established targets, and supplemental use partially offset deficits for a subset. Such gaps could reduce infant exposure to select micronutrients during exclusive breastfeeding and warrant consideration when evaluating maternal diet.

Supplement histories corresponded with distinct HMO patterns within the sample. Vitamin D use associated with higher 6'-SL concentrations, and reported calcium supplementation associated with higher 2'-FL, 6'-SL, and LNDFH I levels. These cohort-level findings were statistically significant but remain observational.

Larger, mechanistic studies are needed to test causality and to define clinically actionable thresholds.