Advances in Research on the Influence of Maternal Diet on Nutrients in Human Milk

Abstract

Nutrients in human milk are influenced by maternal diet, but it is still clear which type(s) of nutrients can be attributed to dietary changes. Most studies do not directly assess maternal diet or quantify the relationship between maternal diet and human milk composition. In this study, we retrieved and analyzed 24 observational studies, 5 crossover experimental studies and 11 parallel controlled experimental studies concerning ‘human milk/breast milk’, ‘nutrient’, ‘macronutrient’, ‘micronutrient’, ‘maternal nutrition’ and ‘maternal diet’ from the literature published before May 2022 in the PubMed and the Web of Science databases. It was found that in the diet of lactating mothers, fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated and trans fatty acids, and certain micronutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A and D), water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C) and trace minerals (iron, zinc and selenium), were closely related to their contents in human milk.

Keywords

• human milk; nutrient; maternal diet; maternal nutrition; dietary intake