First study to match maternal secretor status for donor human milk for preterm infants

  "Our research could revolutionize how milk banks and neonatal intensive care units provide donor human milk (DHM) to preterm infants."

The study looks at the impact on the infant gut microbiome of matching maternal secretor status for donor milk for preterm infants.

"This study will evaluate the impact of matching donor human milk to the maternal secretor status of very early preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) on the gut microbiome. Half of enrolled infants will receive donor human milk which is matched their mother's secretor status and half will receive standard (unmatched) donor human milk, which is standard care in the neonatal intensive care unit."

As discussed in our Breast Milk and the Infant Microbiome course featuring Dr Meghan Azad (who is overseeing this study), maternal secretor status is really important as it influences the composition of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk.

Link to study: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04130165

Link to our Breast Milk and the Infant Microbiome course (approved for 17 HOURS CPD / CE / CNEs and 17 L-CERPs): https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/breastmilk1

New research on how maternal BMI, glucose tolerance status, mode of birth and ethnicity influence the diversity of microbes in breast milk

 New research on how maternal BMI, glucose tolerance status, mode of birth and ethnicity all influence the diversity of microbes that are in breast milk.

A couple of interesting points:

- Women with a pre-pregnancy BMI > 30 kg/m2 (obese) had a greater incidence of Bacteroidetes and a reduced incidence of Proteobacteria in their milk, compared to women with an overweight BMI.

- An increased incidence of Brevundimonas was found in the milk of women who underwent an unscheduled C-section versus vaginal delivery.

“Human milk has a diverse microbiota of which its diversity and differential abundance appear associated with maternal BMI, glucose tolerance status, mode of delivery, and ethnicity”

Link to research:

https://bmcmicrobiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10...

Scientific reference:

LeMay-Nedjelski, L., Butcher, J., Ley, S.H. et al. Examining the relationship between maternal body size, gestational glucose tolerance status, mode of delivery and ethnicity on human milk microbiota at three months post-partum. BMC Microbiol 20, 219 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-01901-9

Restless poor quality sleep affects the gut microbiome and metabolic health

 A really fascinating article in Pyschology Today about how restless poor quality sleep affects the gut microbiome and metabolic health.

“Irregular sleep schedules can disrupt a healthy gut. This recent study in the journal Nature reveals the connections between sleep, circadian biorhythms, and the gut microbiome. It points to a regular sleep routineas one way to protect and promote optimal gut and immune system functioning”

So what can you do?

“Sticking to a sleep routine, limiting nighttime light exposure, managing stress, and practicing healthy, sleep-friendly eating habits are all ways to keep your circadian clock—and your gut microbiome—functioning optimally”

It doesn't mention this in the article, but I wonder to what extent the restless poor quality sleep of expectant and new parents affects their own gut microbiome, and in turn, potentially affects their baby's microbiome?

Link to article in Psychology Today: >>>>>

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newz...