Short-chain fatty acids in breast milk and their relationship with the infant gut microbiota

IntroductionThe short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contained in breast milk play a key role in infant growth, affecting metabolism and enhancing intestinal immunity by regulating inflammation.MethodsIn order to examine the associations between the microbiota and SCFA levels in breast milk, and explore the roles of SCFAs in regulating the infant gut microbiota, we enrolled 50 paired mothers and infants and collected both breast milk and infant fecal samples. Breast milk SCFA contents were determined by UPLC-MS, and whole genome shotgun sequencing was applied to determine the microbial composition of breast milk and infant feces. The SCFA levels in breast milk were grouped into tertiles as high, medium, or low, and the differences of intestinal microbiota and KEGG pathways were compared among groups.ResultsThe results demonstrated that breast milk butyric acid (C4) is significantly associated with Clostridium leptum richness in breastmilk. Additionally, the specific Bifidobacterium may have an interactive symbiosis with the main species of C4-producing bacteria in human milk. Women with a low breast milk C4 tertile are associated with a high abundance of Salmonella and Salmonella enterica in their infants' feces. KEGG pathway analysis further showed that the content of C4 in breast milk is significantly correlated with the infants' metabolic pathways of lysine and arginine biosynthesis.DiscussionThis study suggests that interactive symbiosis of the microbiota exists in breast milk. Certain breast milk microbes could be beneficial by producing C4 and further influence the abundance of certain gut microbes in infants, playing an important role in early immune and metabolic development

Correlation analysis between macronutrient intake and sleep quality in pregnant women in ten Chinese cities

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between macronutrient intake and sleep quality， the current sleep quality of pregnant women from ten cities in China was investigated.MethodsMultistage stratified sampling was used to investigate the nutrient intake and sleep quality of 863 pregnant women in ten Chinese cities. Twenty-four dietary intake， sleep quality， perinatal depression， and other information was obtained using physical measurements and a questionnaire. Logistic and multiple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between macronutrient intake and sleep quality.ResultsThe prevalence of poor sleep quality among pregnant women was 46.12%； pregnant women who were in the third trimester， who had depression， were currently unemployed， passively smoked during pregnancy， and had a history of previous alcohol consumption， demonstrated a higher levels of poor sleep quality （P<0.05）. The ratios of energy intake from carbohydrates， fats， and proteins in pregnant women were 51.1%， 34.4%， and 14.2%， respectively. The results of the logistic and multiple linear regression analyses indicated that when total energy intake was constant， substituting 5% of energy intake either from protein or fat with carbohydrate increased the odds of poor sleep quality； OR were 1.13 （95%CI： 1.01–1.26， P<0.05） and 1.09 （95% CI： 1.02–1.16， P<0.05）， respectively.ConclusionThere is a significant negative correlation between carbohydrate intake and sleep quality at a certain level of total energy intake for pregnant women

Milk fat globule membrane promotes brain development in piglets by enhancing the connection of white matter fiber trace

IntroductionBrain development during infancy is crucial for later health and development. Although Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) has been demonstrated to enhance brain development, further investigation is needed to determine the optimal dose.MethodsIn this study, 80 piglets aged 2 days were randomly assigned to four groups: Control group, MFGM-L (1.74 g MFGM per 100 g diet), MFGM-M (4.64 g MFGM per 100 g diet), and MFGM-H (6.09 g MFGM per 100 g diet). Daily body weight and milk intake of the piglets were recorded until 31 days postnatal. Learning and memory abilities were evaluated using the spatial T-maze test on day 15. MRI analysis was conducted to assess functional and structural changes in brain tissues. Additionally, mRNA and protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NTF-3) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were evaluated.ResultsThe results indicated that the MFGM supplemented diet significantly improved the accuracy of the piglets in the T-maze test, with the MFGM-L group exhibiting the best performance. MRI showed no volumetric differences in the gray and white matter between the groups. However, the fractional anisotropy in the left and right hippocampus of piglets in the MFGM-L group was significantly higher than in the other three groups. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between the accuracy of the T-maze test and hippocampal fractional anisotropy.DiscussionThe MFGM supplemented diet also increased the expression of BDNF in the cerebral cortex. However, the changes in BDNF were not consistent with the results of the T-maze test. In conclusion, adding 1.74 g MFGM per 100 g diet can significantly improve neonatal piglets’ learning and memory abilities, potentially by enhancing the connection of white matter fiber bundles in the brain

High Multi-vitamin Intake During Pregnancy in Wistar Rats and the Metabolic Syndrome in the Offspring

Vitamins are readily available in the modern diet due to liberalized fortification and supplementation policies. This research tested the hypothesis that high multi-vitamin intake by Wistar rats during pregnancy leads to the development of obesity and characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in the offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed the AIN-93G diet containing either the recommended (RV) or 10-fold increase (HV) in vitamin content. Pups were weaned to the RV diet (Study 1), an obesogenic liquid diet (Ob, Study 2), low vitamin diets (1/3RV or 1/6RV, Study 3), or a nutrient selection paradigm (NSP) with 10% and 60% casein diets (Study 4). Body weight (BW), food intake (FI), glucose and insulin responses, appetite hormones, abdominal fat pad mass (FPM) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured. Expressions of mRNA for hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) receptors and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) were measured in Study 4. Males, but not females, born to HV dams had higher post-weaning BW and FI when weaned to the RV or 1/3RV diet, and exhibited components of metabolic syndrome, including higher FPM, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and elevated SBP compared with those born to RV dams. The Ob diet led to exaggerated weight gain and expressions of components of metabolic syndrome in both sexes born to dams fed the HV diet. Female pups on the 1/6RV diet from HV dams had two-fold higher glucose response and lower insulin response, but no difference in post-weaning BW and daily FI compared to those from RV dams. In contrast to the pups born to HV dams and fed a single diet, those from the HV dams and on the NSP gained less weight and ate less, and had lower hypothalamic mRNA expressions of 5-HT receptors and POMC. In conclusion, high multi-vitamin intake during pregnancy may lead to obesity, and result in a higher risk of developing characteristics of metabolic syndrome in the offspring. However, sex, weaning diet composition, and the presence of diet choice alter the outcomes.Ph

Changes in HMO Concentrations throughout Lactation: Influencing Factors, Health Effects and Opportunities

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are important functional biomolecules in human breast milk. Understanding the factors influencing differences in HMO composition and changes in their concentration over lactation can help to design feeding strategies that are well-adapted to infant’s needs. This review summarises the total and individual concentration of HMOs from data published from 1999 to 2019. Studies show that the HMO concentrations are highest in colostrum (average 9–22 g/L), followed by slightly lower concentrations in transitional milk (average 8–19 g/L), with a gradual decline in mature milk as lactation progresses, from 6–15 g/L in breast milk collected within one month of birth, to 4–6 g/L after 6 months. Significant differences in HMO composition have been described between countries. Different HMOs were shown to be predominant over the course of lactation, e.g., 3-fucosyllactose increased over lactation, whereas 2′-fucosyllactose decreased. Recent clinical studies on infant formula supplemented with 2′-fucosyllactose in combination with other oligosaccharides showed its limited beneficial effect on infant health

The Association between Postpartum Practice and Chinese Postpartum Depression: Identification of a Postpartum Depression-Related Dietary Pattern

Conflicting results of Chinese traditional postpartum practices have aroused concerns over their health effects. The role of postpartum practices in postpartum depression (PPD) is still a matter of discussion, especially from a dietary practice point of view. The current study was designed to (1) explore the association between postpartum practices and PPD, (2) to identify the dietary pattern related to PPD, and (3) to identify the possible pathways among postpartum practices and PPD. This study is part of the YI Study, which was a cross-sectional study conducted in 10 cities in China. Data for 955 postpartum women were used in the current analysis. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-10) was used to evaluate PPD with a cutoff value of 9. Postpartum practice was based on the participants’ self-reported practices. Individual practices were recorded and categorized as dietary and non-dietary practices. The dietary pattern was identified based on the food intake frequencies of 25 food groups using the method of reduced rank regression. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the potential pathways between postpartum practices and PPD. The current study observed significant associations between postpartum practices and PPD (Adjusted OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.04–1.90). A similar trend was also found between dietary postpartum practices and PPD (Adjusted OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.03–1.88) but not for non-dietary practices and PPD (Adjusted OR = 1.26, 95%CI: 0.92–1.75). A PPD-related dietary pattern was identified with the characteristics of a high intake of meat and eggs and a lower intake of vegetables, mushrooms, and nuts. This dietary pattern was significantly associated with a higher chance of adhering to postpartum practice (Adjusted OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.10–1.44). Based on the pathway analysis, this study also observed the association between postpartum practices and PPD, and the association between dietary practices and PPD were both mediated by sleep quality. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that a substantial proportion of women in modern China experience traditional postpartum Chinese practices and that either overall or dietary-related postpartum practices are associated with a higher risk of PPD. The current dietary practices in postpartum rituals may play an important role in developing PPD. A culturally embedded, science-based dietary guideline is required to help women to achieve both physical and psychological health in the postpartum period

Dietary Diversity and Food Variety in Chinese Children Aged 3–17 Years: Are They Negatively Associated with Dietary Micronutrient Inadequacy?

Micronutrient inadequacy remains a nutritional problem in Chinese children. However, the associations between dietary diversity and inadequate micronutrient intake have not been extensively studied. A total of 2012 children aged 3&#8315;17 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included for analysis. Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food variety scores (FVS) were assessed based on three 24-h recall periods. The nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) was used to determine the micronutrient adequacy of the diet. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR, %) was defined as the sum of each NAR divided by the number of involved micronutrients. Overall micronutrient inadequacy (OMI) was defined as having a MAR below 0.75. Micronutrient inadequacy was defined as the proportion of individuals whose nutrient intake was less than the estimated average requirement. After adjustment confounders, DDS and FVSs were positively associated with MAR and NAR of most nutrients except sodium (p &lt; 0.05). A higher DDS was negatively associated with the prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C, iron, zinc, selenium, niacin, phosphorus, magnesium and OMI. Similar results were found for FVSs. In conclusion, this study indicates that poor dietary diversity and food variety in Chinese children are directly associated with inadequate micronutrient intake

Consumption of Added Sugar among Chinese Toddlers and Its Association with Picky Eating and Daily Screen Time

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between daily screen time, picky eating, and consumption frequency of sugared foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Methods: The research data came from the Young Investigation (YI) study conducted in 10 cities in China. This study used sociodemographic information, feeding behavior, picky eating reported by parents, and the consumption frequency of sugared foods and SSBs of 879 toddlers aged 1&ndash;3 years. The relationship between daily screen time and picky eating behavior was assessed using logistic regression. The zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model was used to fit the consumption frequencies of sugared foods and SSBs. Results: In all, 13.1% (n = 115) of toddlers did not have sugared foods 1 month before the survey, while 73.3% (n = 644) of toddlers did not have SSBs 1 month before the survey. The consumption rate of sugared foods was relatively higher than SSBs (&chi;2 = 661.25, p &lt; 0.001). After adjusting for social demographic information, no relationship was found between daily screen time and picky eating (OR = 1.437; 95% CI: 0.990,2.092). The ZINB model showed that, among children who ate sugared foods, children who were picky eaters ate them more often (IRR = 1.133; 95% CI: 1.095,1.172), but no association was found between picky eating and the chance of avoiding sugared foods (OR = 0.949; 95% CI: 0.613,1.471). Children who were picky eaters were less likely not to drink SSBs (OR = 0.664; 95% CI: 0.478,0.921). However, among children who consumed SSBs, picky eaters drank them less frequently (IRR = 0.599; 95% CI: 0.552,0.650). Children with a screen time of no less than 1 h/d ate sugared foods more frequently (IRR = 1.383; 95% CI: 1.164,1.644), and they were less likely to avoid sugared foods (OR = 0.223; 95% CI: 0.085,0.587). The longer the screen time per day was, the less likely children did not have SSBs (&lt;1 h/d: OR = 0.272; 95% CI: 0.130, 0.569; &ge;1 h/d: OR = 0.136; 95% CI: 0.057, 0.328). Conclusions: The consumption rate of sugared foods was higher than that of SSBs. Picky eating and daily screen time were related to the consumption frequency of added sugar among Chinese toddlers aged 1&ndash;3 years. Picky eaters consumed sugared foods more frequently and were more likely to drink SSBs. Children whose daily screen time reached 1 h/d were more likely to eat sugared foods and drink SSBs

Dietary Diversity, Micronutrient Adequacy and Bone Status during Pregnancy: A Study in Urban China from 2019 to 2020

Diet quality during reproduction is crucial to maternal and infant health. However, the association between dietary diversity and bone health of pregnant women remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the dietary quality of Chinese urban gravidas using the dietary diversity score (DDS), and to explore the relationship of the DDS with micronutrient adequacy and bone health. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 775 pregnant women aged 18 years or older in urban China. Dietary diversity was assessed using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator. A 24-h dietary recall was used to collect diet data and to calculate the MDD-W and the nutrient intake. Bone health was measured using quantitative ultrasound and assessed by the speed of sound (SOS). Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the DDS and the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were calculated. A multivariable linear regression model was used to estimate the effect size of the DDS on the SOS. The mean DDS was 6.61 ± 1.53 points and 91.0% of participants reported the consumption of five or more food groups. Women in the diverse diet subgroup (DDS ≥ 7 points) were more likely to consume all kinds of food except starchy staples and had higher NARs. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the DDS and the NAR ranged from 0.161 to 0.484. For participants in the second trimester, those with a diverse diet had a higher SOS. A multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the DDS was positively and significantly associated with the SOS (β = 17.18, 95% CI = 5.97–28.39, p = 0.003), but this was not the case for women in the first and third trimesters. Urban Chinese women had good dietary diversity during pregnancy. A higher dietary diversity was associated with a higher NAR. From the point of view of bone, a diverse diet was positively correlated with better bone status, suggesting the importance of improving diet diversity for pregnant women, especially from mid-pregnancy