Profile of Twenty-Three Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Han Chinese Mothers throughout Postpartum 1 year

Abstract

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are multifunctional carbohydrates in breast milk, which are composed by a variety of structures. This study aimed to identified HMOs concentration profile, milk microbiota composition, and the associations with major maternal characteristics in Han Chinese mothers in the one-year lactation period. Seventeen healthy mothers aged from 28 to 36 years, who gave birth to healthy term infants, were recruited. Carbohydrates were detected using the MIRIS human milk analyzer (HMA), and twenty-three HMOs were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Results showed that carbohydrates were relatively stable, while total HMO concentrations ranged from 1.74 to 9.72 g/L and decreased gradually over lactation in breast milk. Based on the structure, seven sialylated HMOs concentration showed the significant decline ($p<0.05$) after three months in lactation. In addition, the relationships between maternal factors, containing the lactation period, genetic status, delivery mode, parity, and milk microbiota profile, and the HMO composition in healthy women, which still need further investigations, were observed.