Maternal Dairy Intake Linked to Changes in Human Milk Lipids

How a Mother's Diet and Exercise Reshape Breast Milk Composition

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. However, 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, University of Oklahoma, and the Joslin Diabetes Center. 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 and the impact of maternal dietary quality on human milk oligosaccharides at the upcoming PAS 2026 Meeting.

Results from this pilot study suggest that maternal dairy intake is associated with decreased concentrations of numerous human milk lipids. The top-ranking lipid with the greatest number of associations with maternal dietary components was oxidized triglyceride (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 human milk, need to be further investigated. Establishing the maternal dietary factors that alter human milk lipids is critical to improving dietary guidelines for pregnant and lactating individuals.

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.

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, 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. 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. 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.

Conclusion(s)

Results from this pilot study suggest that maternal dairy intake is associated with decreased concentrations of numerous human milk 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 human milk, need to be further investigated. Establishing the maternal dietary factors that alter human milk lipids is critical to improving dietary guidelines for pregnant and lactating individuals.