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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center » Microbiome and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413571
Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Human Milk Metals and Metalloids Shape Infant Microbiota

Author
item FLORES-VENTURA, EDUARD - Institute Of Agrochemistry And Food Technology
item BERNABEU-LORENZO, MANUEL - Institute Of Agrochemistry And Food Technology
item CALLEJÓN-LEBLIC, BELÉN - Universidad De Huelva
item CABRERA-RUBIO, RAÚL - Institute Of Agrochemistry And Food Technology
item Yeruva, Venkat
item ESTAÑ-CAPELL, JAVIER - University Of Valencia
item MARTÍNEZ-COSTA, CECILIA - University Of Valencia
item GARCÍA-BARRERA, TAMARA - Universidad De Huelva
item CARMEN COLLADO, MARÍA - Institute Of Agrochemistry And Food Technology

Submitted to: Food and Function
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2024
Publication Date: 11/8/2024
Citation: Flores-Ventura, E., Bernabeu-Lorenzo, M., Callejón-Leblic, B., Cabrera-Rubio, R., Yeruva, V., Estañ-Capell, J., Martínez-Costa, C., García-Barrera, T., Carmen Collado, M. 2024. Human Milk Metals and Metalloids Shape Infant Microbiota. Food and Function. 15(2024).Article 12134. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FO01929F.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FO01929F

Interpretive Summary: Metals (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Tl, and Pb) and gut microbes (i.e., microbiota) have historically co-evolved. Early in life human milk metals may influence infant gut microbiota composition and health outcomes. To investigate the metals content within human milk and its influence on the infant's gut microbiota within the first 2 months after birth, milk samples from 69 mother-infant dyads from a clinical study were leveraged. In independent cross-sectional analyses of mother-infant pairs from two separate time-points, significant variations in metals concentrations and microbial abundances were observed. In mature lactation stage, seven significant correlations between metals and microbiota were identified. Notably, correlation analyses indicated a higher abundance of the Streptococcus genus when Mn and V concentrations were lower. This study highlights the significance of metal-microbiota interactions in early infant development. Mn may be the most potential metal to influence microbiota, and Streptococcus to potentially be the most influenced genus by metals with the infant gut microbiota.

Technical Abstract: Background: The profile of metal(loid)s in human milk is essential for infant growth and development, yet its impact on the development of the infant microbiota remains unclear. Elements, such as manganese, zinc, iron or copper, play crucial roles in influencing infant health. Aim: To investigate the metal(loid) content within human milk and its influence on the infant’s gut microbiota within the first 2 months after birth. Methods: Human milk samples and infant stool samples from 77 mother–infant dyads in the MAMI cohort were collected at two time points: the early transitional stage and the mature stage. Metallomic profiling of human milk was conducted using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The infant gut microbiota was profiled through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and maternal–infant clinical data were available. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficientsprovided insights into metal(loid)–microbiota relationships. Results: Independent cross-sectional analyses of mother–infant pairs at two time points, significant variations in metal concentrations and differences in microbial abundances and diversities were observed. Notably, Bifidobacterium genus abundance was higher during the mature lactation stage. During early lactation, we found a significant positive correlation between infant gut Corynebacterium and human milk nickel concentrations, and negative correlations between Veillonella spp. and antimony, and Enterobacter spp. and copper. Additionally, Simpson’s diversity was negatively correlated with iron. In the mature lactation stage, we identified eleven significant correlations between metals and microbiota. Notably, Klebsiella genus showed multiple negative correlations with iron, antimony, and vanadium. Conclusion: Our study highlights the significance of metal(loid)–microbiota interactions in early infant development, indicating that infant gut Klebsiella genus may be particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in metal(loid) levels present in human milk, when compared to other genera. Future research should explore these interactions at a strain level and the implications on infant health and development. This trial was registered as NCT03552939