Human milk oligosaccharides are associated with protection against diarrhea in breast-fed infants.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the association between maternal milk levels of 2-linked fucosylated oligosaccharide and prevention of diarrhea as a result of Campylobacter, caliciviruses, and diarrhea of all causes in breast-fed infants.

STUDY DESIGN:

Data and banked samples were analyzed from 93 breast-feeding mother-infant pairs who were prospectively studied during 1988-1991 from birth to 2 years with infant feeding and diarrhea data collected weekly; diarrhea was diagnosed by a study physician. Milk samples obtained 1 to 5 weeks postpartum were analyzed for oligosaccharide content. Data were analyzed by Poisson regression.

RESULTS:

Total 2-linked fucosyloligosaccharide in maternal milk ranged from 0.8 to 20.8 mmol/L (50%-92% of milk oligosaccharide). Moderate-to-severe diarrhea of all causes (n=77 cases) occurred less often (P=.001) in infants whose milk contained high levels of total 2-linked fucosyloligosaccharide as a percent of milk oligosaccharide. Campylobacter diarrhea (n=31 cases) occurred less often (P=.004) in infants whose mother's milk contained high levels of 2'-FL, a specific 2-linked fucosyloligosaccharide, and calicivirus diarrhea (n=16 cases) occurred less often (P=.012) in infants whose mother's milk contained high levels of lacto-N-difucohexaose (LDFH-I), another 2-linked fucosyloligosaccharide.

CONCLUSION:

This study provides novel evidence suggesting that human milk oligosaccharides are clinically relevant to protection against infant diarrhea.

• Authors: Ardythe L Morrow, Guillermo M Ruiz-Palacios, Mekibib Altaye, Xi Jiang, M Lourdes Guerrero, Jareen K Meinzen-Derr, Tibor Farkas, Prasoon Chaturvedi, Larry K Pickering, David S Newburg
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 145 Issue 3 Pg. 297-303 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 0022-3476 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15343178 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Oligosaccharides

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Breast Feeding
• Campylobacter Infections (prevention & control)
• Data Collection
• Diarrhea, Infantile (classification, microbiology, prevention & control)
• Educational Status
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Maternal Age
• Milk, Human (chemistry)
• Oligosaccharides (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Poisson Distribution
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index