Abstract
Background: Immunomodulatory proteins in human milk (HM) can shape infant immune development. However, strategies to modulate their levels are currently unknown. This study investigated whether maternal prebiotic supplementation alters the levels of immunomodulatory proteins in HM.
Methods: The study was nested within the SYMBA double-blind randomized controlled trial (ACTRN12615001075572), which investigated the effects of maternal prebiotic (short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides) supplementation from <21 weeks gestation during pregnancy until 6 months postnatal during lactation on child allergic disease risk. Mother–child dyads receiving prebiotics (n = 46) or placebo (n = 54) were included in this study. We measured the levels of 24 immunomodulatory proteins in HM collected at 2, 4, and 6 months.
Results: Cluster analysis showed that the overall immunomodulatory protein composition of milk samples from both groups was similar. At 2 months, HM of prebiotic-supplemented women had decreased levels of TGF-β1 and TSLP (95% CI: −17.4 [−29.68, −2.28] and −57.32 [−94.22, −4.7] respectively) and increased levels of sCD14 (95% CI: 1.81 [0.17, 3.71]), when compared to the placebo group. At 4 months, IgG1 was lower in the prebiotic group (95% CI: −1.55 [−3.55, −0.12]) compared to placebo group.
Conclusion: This exploratory study shows that prebiotic consumption by lactating mothers selectively alters specific immunomodulatory proteins in HM. This finding is crucial for understanding how prebiotic dietary recommendations for pregnant and lactating women can modify the immune properties of HM and potentially influence infant health outcomes through immune support from breastfeeding.
Keywords
early intervention, GOS/FOS, human milk, immune regulation, maternal supplementation, prebiotics
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-1-2024
Volume
35
Issue
9
PubMed ID
39221598
Publication Title
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Funding Information
This study was supported by a WA Child Research Fund (WACRF 2018—Round 7) grant (RA/1/3027/386), and the funding endowed by the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation. The SYMBA trial, in which our current project is nested, was supported by an NHMRC project grant, ID1099480, and the Telethon-Perth Children's Hospital Research Fund. The ORIGINS Project has received core-funding support from the Telethon-Perth Children's Hospital Research Fund, Joondalup Health Campus, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, and the Commonwealth Government of Australia through the Channel 7 Telethon Trust. Substantial in-kind support has been provided by Telethon Kids Institute and Joondalup Health Campus. D.J.P. was supported by the NHMRC Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) Career Development Fellowship ID1144544 (2018–2021) and the Telethon Kids Institute Ascend Fellowship (2022–2026).
Funding received from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
1099480, 1144544
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Divakara, N., Dempsey, Z., Saraswati, C., Garssen, J., Silva, D., Keelan, J. A., ... & Macchiaverni, P. (2024). Effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on human milk immunological composition: Insights from the SYMBA study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 35(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.14226
Comments
Divakara, N., Dempsey, Z., Saraswati, C., Garssen, J., Silva, D., Keelan, J. A., ... & Macchiaverni, P. (2024). Effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on human milk immunological composition: Insights from the SYMBA study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 35(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.14226