BOSTON, April 24, 2026 – Results from a pilot study of 100 exclusively breastfeeding women suggest that maternal dairy intake is associated with decreased concentrations of numerous human milk lipids. Findings from the study will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting, taking place April 24-27 in Boston.

The human milk lipidome is comprised of hundreds of lipids that are critical to infant brain, gut and respiratory development. Maternal diet is known to alter human milk polyunsaturated fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid, but our understanding of the role of maternal diet in shaping the broad array of lipids in human milk is limited.

“Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for babies, including a lower risk of obesity, with breast milk being a dynamic fluid that may be influenced by a mother’s health and behaviors,” said Chang Lu, MD, instructor of pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and presenting author of the study. “Lipidomics is an advanced technique that allows us to simultaneously survey over 500 lipids in human milk. Using this state-of-the-art approach, along with comprehensive assessments of maternal diet, our group found numerous relationships between a mother’s diet and her breast milk lipid composition. Surprisingly, the strongest link was seen between maternal adherence to healthy dairy intake guidelines and lower levels of specific milk lipid species including many triacylglycerols with omega-6 fatty acid chains. Interestingly, we found that higher dietary score for dairy intake was associated with lower levels of 7 oxidized triacylglycerols in milk. Limited data in adults suggest that oxidized derivatives of triacylglycerols in blood may be harmful for cardiovascular and metabolic health. It is not known yet what these findings mean for babies, which will be an important future direction for our group. Breast milk is the ideal form of nutrition for infants and this work has the potential to optimize the benefits of breastfeeding and inform personalized nutritional recommendations for breastfeeding mothers.”

The Mothers and Infants Linked for Healthy Growth (MILk) Study, funded by NIH/NICHD, is one of the largest observational studies based in the U.S. that studies the link between breast milk composition and maternal and infant health. It is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota (PI: Dr. Ellen Demerath), University of Oklahoma (PI: Dr. David Fields), and the Joslin Diabetes Center (PI: Dr. Elvira Isganaitis). In over 500 mothers and infants enrolled in Minnesota and Oklahoma, the study investigators are examining the impact of maternal factors including nutrition, exercise, and gestational diabetes, on milk composition and infant health. In addition to findings of a correlation between maternal diet and milk lipids, the study group will also present findings on variations in milk lipids based on maternal habitual physical activity (Dr. Arti Uniyal) and the impact of maternal dietary quality on human milk oligosaccharides (Dr. Meghan Crimmins) at the upcoming PAS 2026 Meeting. 

Additional information is included in the below research abstract. The PAS Meeting connects thousands of leading pediatric researchers, clinicians and educators worldwide. View the full schedule in the PAS 2026 program guide. For more information about the PAS Meeting, please visit www.pas-meeting.org.

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About the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting connects thousands of leading pediatric researchers, clinicians, and educators worldwide, united by a shared mission: connecting the global academic pediatric community to advance scientific discovery and promote innovation in child and adolescent health. PAS is a partnership of four premier pediatric associations: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), the American Pediatric Society (APS), and the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR). For more information, visit www.pas-meeting.org. Follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Abstract: Maternal Diet Shapes the Human Milk Lipidome

Presenting Author

Chang Lu, MD, Instructor of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital

Organization

Boston Children’s Hospital

Topic

Breastfeeding/Human Milk

Background

The human milk (HM) lipidome is comprised of hundreds of lipids that are critical to infant brain, gut, and respiratory development. Maternal diet is known to alter HM polyunsaturated fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid, but our understanding of the role of maternal diet in shaping the broad array of lipids in HM is limited.

Objective

To examine the association between maternal diet and the HM lipidome.

Design/Methods

In this pilot study of 100 exclusively breastfeeding women and their healthy term infants at 1-month postpartum (described in Table 1), a past-month maternal food frequency questionnaire (DHQ3) was used to capture frequency of individual food and food group intakes from which Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI2015) total and subcomponent dietary quality scores were calculated. Intakes of total, saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acid, total sugar, and total fiber were calculated based on USDA standards. Relative abundances of lipids were quantified in HM using an untargeted high-sensitivity profiling platform (BPGbio, Inc., Framingham, MA). We tested the association of each dietary factor against each lipid concentration using linear regression. Significance was defined as FDR< 0.10 to correct for multiple testing.   Results

We identified 64 lipid species (of 567 total) with at least one significant association (FDR< 0.10) with maternal dietary components. Of these, oxidized triglyceride (OxTG) (16:0/16:1/18:1(OH)) had the greatest number of associations including negative associations with intake of total fat, polyunsaturated fat, and total sugars (Table 2). Sixty-two of 64 lipids were associated with maternal dairy intake and all associations were negative. Top-ranking lipid species associated with dairy intake (FDR< 0.05) included 1 diacylglycerol, 2 OxTG, and 10 triglycerides (Table 3).   Conclusion(s)

Results from this pilot study suggest that maternal dairy intake is associated with decreased concentrations of numerous HM lipids. The top-ranking lipid with the greatest number of associations with maternal dietary components was OxTG (16:0/16:1/18:1(OH)). Studies have shown that oxidized derivatives of triglycerides may be associated with atherosclerosis, liver damage, and glucose intolerance. The impact of maternal dairy intake on infant health through milk lipids, as well as the significance of OxTG lipid species in HM need to be further investigated. Establishing the maternal dietary factors that alter HM lipids is critical to improving dietary guidelines for pregnant and lactating individuals.

Co-Authors

Jonathan M. Dreyfuss, PhD, Instructor, Joslin Diabetes Center

Arti Uniyal, MD, Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital

Emily M. Nagel, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics

Armando Peña, PhD, Assistant Professor, Indiana University-Bloomington

Meghan Crimmins, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Kelsey Johnson, PhD, Assistant Professor, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Juan Aristizabal-Henao, PhD, Senior Scientist, BPGbio Inc

Michael Kiebish, PhD, VP Platform and Translational Sciences, BPGbio

David A. Fields, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Elvira Isganaitis, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School

Ellen W. Demerath, PhD, Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Tables and Images

Table 1. Participant demographic and clinical characteristics

Count (%) for categorical variables; mean (SD) for continuous variables

Lu PAS abstract table 1.png

Table 2. Human milk oxidized triglyceride (16:0/16:1/18:1(OH)) is associated with maternal dietary intake

Note: intake derived from DHQ3 and calculated based on USDA references.

Lu PAS table 2.png

Human milk lipid species associated with maternal HEI-2015 dairy intake component score

Note: Higher scores indicate greater adherence to US Dietary Guidelines for Americans for intake of any form of milk (fluid, dry, evaporated), yogurt, cheese, and fortified soy beverages, but not plant-based milks not fortified with soy.

Lu PAS table 3.png

Meeting

PAS 2026

Sodium, an essential electrolyte, orchestrates a symphony of physiological processes critical for maintaining cellular stability and organ function. While its systemic importance is well-established, the nuances of sodium balance during fetal development and the early postnatal phase have remained largely elusive. This compelling research zeroes in on how maternal sodium availability and early use of diuretics—a class of drugs frequently administered to neonates—intersect to influence the offspring’s metabolic frameworks and ventilatory capacities.

The investigative team employed a meticulously designed murine model to mimic maternal low-sodium intake, coupled with neonatal administration of diuretics, thereby replicating clinical scenarios faced in neonatal intensive care units and areas of nutritional deficiency. Their findings were not just physiological footnotes; they portrayed a picture of profound systemic alterations that hint at overshadowed risks of common clinical practices and maternal dietary patterns.

An initial revelation from the study was the pronounced metabolic dysregulation observed in offspring exposed to sodium scarcity in utero. These animals exhibited impaired glucose tolerance, altered lipid metabolism, and variations in body composition indicative of energy utilization disorders. This metabolic programming suggests that sodium availability during critical developmental windows influences not only immediate physiological adaptation but also long-term energy homeostasis.

Beyond metabolism, the research delineated significant ventilatory challenges within these same cohorts. The mice exposed to combined perinatal sodium disruption manifested reduced respiratory efficacy, characterized by diminished ventilatory responses to hypoxic and hypercapnic stressors. This impairment in respiratory control underscores sodium’s pivotal role in pulmonary development and the maturation of central chemoreceptors that govern breathing.

Mechanistically, the authors propose that sodium deficiency alters neurodevelopmental pathways in the brainstem and lung parenchyma by modulating ion channel expression and signaling cascades essential for respiratory rhythm generation and alveolar function. Furthermore, early postnatal diuretics exacerbated these derangements by promoting additional electrolyte imbalances and renal sodium loss, compounding the vulnerability established during gestation.

The translational implications of these discoveries are particularly poignant. In clinical settings, especially in neonatal intensive care, diuretics are cornerstone therapies for managing pulmonary edema and cardiac dysfunction. However, this study urges a re-examination of dosing regimens and timing, advocating for a nuanced balance that safeguards sodium homeostasis to prevent unintended sequelae.

Importantly, the authors highlight the critical need for refined nutritional guidelines for expectant mothers in diverse healthcare environments. With sodium interventions traditionally approached with caution due to concerns about hypertension, this research reorients the perspective towards adequate sodium intake as a protective factor for offspring vitality and developmental integrity.

This study also shines a light on the broader concept of “developmental programming,” where environmental factors during critical periods imprint lifelong physiological trajectories. Disrupted sodium homeostasis emerges as a novel axis within this paradigm, linking perinatal nutritional milieu and pharmacological exposures to adult susceptibility to metabolic syndrome and respiratory diseases.

Future research prompted by these findings will likely explore potential interventions to mitigate these early-life disruptions. Strategies might include optimizing maternal nutrition, individualized diuretic protocols, and possibly therapeutic modulation of ion channel function postnatally to rescue or prevent adverse outcomes.

Beyond the laboratory, this work asserts a call to action for clinicians, nutritionists, and policymakers to integrate electrolytic balance considerations into prenatal and neonatal care frameworks. Distilling complex biochemical pathways into actionable care recommendations could revolutionize approaches to preventing chronic metabolic and respiratory disorders rooted in early life.

The ramifications extend into public health strategies globally, where sodium-deficient diets are commonplace due to socioeconomic factors or cultural dietary restrictions. This research elevates the discourse surrounding sodium from a mere dietary mineral to an indispensable component of developmental health programming.

Of note, the comprehensive methodology utilized – encompassing metabolic assays, respiratory function tests, histological examinations, and molecular profiling – lends robust credence to the study’s conclusions, elevating its impact within both basic science and clinical medicine realms.

In essence, the investigation by Madison and colleagues carves a new niche in developmental biology and pediatrics, illustrating the profound interplay between electrolyte balance, pharmacological intervention, and developmental health. The pathophysiological insights unveiled in their murine model challenge the status quo, encouraging a more integrated view of maternal-fetal health where sodium plays a starring role.

As science continues to unravel the intricate dance of ions within our cells, studies like this pave the way toward precision nutrition and tailored pharmacotherapy, aiming to nurture healthier generations from the very start of life. This landmark contribution is destined to spark widespread discussion and inspire a wave of research focused on safeguarding life’s earliest and most vulnerable stages.

With these paradigm-shifting revelations, maternal nutrition and neonatal care stand on the cusp of innovation, bringing hope for interventions that may dramatically reduce the burden of chronic metabolic and respiratory disease etched into the human condition from birth. The implications for human health, and by extension global well-being, are as profound as the humble ion at the heart of this discovery.

Subject of Research: Maternal sodium intake and postnatal diuretics programming metabolic and ventilatory dysfunction in mice.

Article Title: Maternal low sodium intake and early postnatal diuretics program metabolic and ventilatory dysfunction in mice.

Article References:
Madison, A.M., Araya, B.R., Grobe, C.C. et al. Maternal low sodium intake and early postnatal diuretics program metabolic and ventilatory dysfunction in mice. Pediatr Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04689-4

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 27 December 2025

A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports explored how the diets of pregnant women during their second and third trimesters relate to behavioral and temperament outcomes in their children. Specifically, researchers aimed to understand the effects of consuming high-glycemic index (GI) foods, which cause rapid increases in blood sugar levels, on infant behavior. High-GI foods are widely available and commonly consumed, including items like white bread, sugary cereals, and snacks. This research adds to a growing body of literature that reveals essential connections between maternal health behaviors and the mental health of their children.

Conducted under the guidance of prominent figures in psychiatry and nutrition, such as Dr. Elinor Sullivan and Dr. Hanna Gustafsson, the study assessed the dietary intake of over 300 pregnant participants. Data was systematically gathered through detailed food frequency questionnaires, which allowed researchers to evaluate not only the quantities of food consumed but also their respective glycemic indices. With this data, they were able to create composite averages of dietary glycemic indices, enabling them to draw conclusions regarding the overall nutritional quality of each participant’s diet during crucial stages of pregnancy.

One particularly striking finding from the study is that the detrimental effects of high-glycemic index foods on behavioral outcomes in infants were most pronounced during the third trimester. This suggests that the final weeks of prenatal development may represent a sensitive period during which the developing fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to nutritional influences. The implications of these findings are both profound and urgent; health care practitioners can potentially mitigate the development of mental health disorders in children through targeted dietary interventions aimed at mothers.

Lead author Dr. Elizabeth Wood emphasizes the significance of these findings, asserting that they underscore the critical need for nutritional interventions during pregnancy. By identifying specific dietary patterns that correlate with improved infant behavioral health outcomes, health professionals can advise expectant mothers on making better food choices. This proactive approach could lead to a healthier developmental trajectory for infants, fostering better mental health in early life stages.

Moreover, Dr. Jamie Lo, a maternal-fetal medicine expert, noted the crucial opportunity for intervention that arises late in pregnancy. Highlighting that many women establish prenatal care only after the first trimester, this research advocates for increased awareness and resources focused on nutrition during the third trimester. Educating expecting mothers on the importance of diet can empower them to make informed choices that directly impact their children’s well-being.

This line of research does not solely address dietary concerns; it also points to broader socio-economic issues related to food accessibility and education. The need for policy modifications that enhance access to and knowledge about nutritious foods is underscored by the researchers. Furthermore, there is a call to integrate nutritional counseling into routine prenatal care, allowing healthcare providers to take a more holistic approach to maternal and infant health.

The Oregon Health & Science University Center for Women’s Health offers tools like the ‘My Pregnancy Plate’ model, which advocates for balanced, varied, and moderate eating habits during pregnancy. This resource aligns well with the findings of the research, framing healthy dietary choices as fundamental to ensuring the health of mothers and their babies. One-on-one counseling with registered dietitians is also available, providing personalized support that can cater to individual dietary preferences and restrictions.

As the field of maternal health continues to evolve, the insights gained from this research pave the way for future studies focused on optimizing maternal nutrition. By determining the best dietary patterns during pregnancy, researchers hope to significantly improve the long-term health of both mothers and children. The overarching goal of this research is not merely to identify risks but to lay the groundwork for actionable interventions that can alter the course of children’s lives for the better.

In conclusion, the vital relationship between maternal diet and infant mental health cannot be overstated. This emerging evidence suggests that altering dietary habits during pregnancy—especially in the third trimester—could result in tangible improvements in the mental health outcomes of future generations. As Dr. Sullivan aptly puts it, interventions made during pregnancy carry the potential to shape the health of not just one child but their descendants as well, marking a significant step forward in public health and preventive medicine.

Subject of Research: Maternal diet during pregnancy and its effect on offspring mental health
Article Title: Higher prenatal dietary glycemic index in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with infant negative affect at 6 months
News Publication Date: July 1, 2024
Web References: Scientific Reports, OHSU Center for Mental Health Innovation
References: DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91886-0
Image Credits: Oregon Health & Science University
Keywords: Health and medicine, Human health, Human biology, Human reproduction, Mental health, Behavior disorders, Infants, Risk factors, Behavior modification, Diets, Nutrition.