Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum
The objective of this work was to characterize the microbiota of breast milk in healthy Spanish mothers and to investigate the effects of lactation time on its diversity. A total of ninety-nine human milk samples were collected from healthy Spanish women and were assessed by means of next-generation...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2414 |
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| author | Laura Sanjulián Alexandre Lamas Rocío Barreiro Alberto Cepeda Cristina A. Fente Patricia Regal |
| author_facet | Laura Sanjulián Alexandre Lamas Rocío Barreiro Alberto Cepeda Cristina A. Fente Patricia Regal |
| author_sort | Laura Sanjulián |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The objective of this work was to characterize the microbiota of breast milk in healthy Spanish mothers and to investigate the effects of lactation time on its diversity. A total of ninety-nine human milk samples were collected from healthy Spanish women and were assessed by means of next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons and by qPCR. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Accordingly, <i>Streptococcus</i> was the most abundant genus. Lactation time showed a strong influence in milk microbiota, positively correlating with Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while Firmicutes was relatively constant over lactation. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that the highest alpha-diversity was found in samples of prolonged lactation, along with wider differences between individuals. As for milk nutrients, calcium, magnesium, and selenium levels were potentially associated with <i>Streptococcus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus</i> abundance. Additionally, Proteobacteria was positively correlated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in breast milk, and <i>Staphylococcus</i> with conjugated linoleic acid. Conversely, <i>Streptococcus</i> and trans-palmitoleic acid showed a negative association. Other factors such as maternal body mass index or diet also showed an influence on the structure of these microbial communities. Overall, human milk in Spanish mothers appeared to be a complex niche shaped by host factors and by its own nutrients, increasing in diversity over time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:29:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1766325f991b433f8edd4838ddbcabb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:29:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-1766325f991b433f8edd4838ddbcabb42023-11-22T04:37:07ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-07-01137241410.3390/nu13072414Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years PostpartumLaura Sanjulián0Alexandre Lamas1Rocío Barreiro2Alberto Cepeda3Cristina A. Fente4Patricia Regal5Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, SpainThe objective of this work was to characterize the microbiota of breast milk in healthy Spanish mothers and to investigate the effects of lactation time on its diversity. A total of ninety-nine human milk samples were collected from healthy Spanish women and were assessed by means of next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons and by qPCR. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Accordingly, <i>Streptococcus</i> was the most abundant genus. Lactation time showed a strong influence in milk microbiota, positively correlating with Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while Firmicutes was relatively constant over lactation. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that the highest alpha-diversity was found in samples of prolonged lactation, along with wider differences between individuals. As for milk nutrients, calcium, magnesium, and selenium levels were potentially associated with <i>Streptococcus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus</i> abundance. Additionally, Proteobacteria was positively correlated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in breast milk, and <i>Staphylococcus</i> with conjugated linoleic acid. Conversely, <i>Streptococcus</i> and trans-palmitoleic acid showed a negative association. Other factors such as maternal body mass index or diet also showed an influence on the structure of these microbial communities. Overall, human milk in Spanish mothers appeared to be a complex niche shaped by host factors and by its own nutrients, increasing in diversity over time.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2414breast milkmicrobiotabacteriafatty acidsmineralsSpain |
| spellingShingle | Laura Sanjulián Alexandre Lamas Rocío Barreiro Alberto Cepeda Cristina A. Fente Patricia Regal Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum Nutrients breast milk microbiota bacteria fatty acids minerals Spain |
| title | Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum |
| title_full | Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum |
| title_fullStr | Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum |
| title_short | Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum |
| title_sort | bacterial diversity of breast milk in healthy spanish women evolution from birth to five years postpartum |
| topic | breast milk microbiota bacteria fatty acids minerals Spain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2414 |
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