Research progress on factors affecting the human milk metabolome

Food Res Int. 2024 Dec;197(Pt 1):115236. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115236. Epub 2024 Oct 21.

Abstract

Human milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition and contains macronutrients, micronutrients, and various bioactive substances. The human milk composition and metabolite profiles are complex and dynamic, complicating its specific analysis. Metabolomics, a recently emerging technology, has been used to identify human milk metabolites classes. Applying metabolomics to study the factors affecting human milk metabolites can provide significant insights into the relationship between infant nutrition, health, and development and better meet the nutritional needs of infants during growth. Here, we systematically review the current status of human milk metabolomic research, and related methods, offering an in-depth analysis of the influencing factors and results of human milk metabolomics from a metabolic perspective to provide novel ideas to further advance human milk metabolomics.

Keywords: Analytical technique; Human milk; Influencing factor; Metabolome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Metabolome*
  • Metabolomics* / methods
  • Milk, Human* / chemistry
  • Milk, Human* / metabolism