Lu Zhou, Chan Yat-Tin, Lo Kenneth Ka-Hei, Wong Vincy Wing-Si, Ng Yuk-Fan, Li Shi-Ying, Ho Wing-Wa, Wong Man-Sau, Zhao Danyue
Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), 17W Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China.
Food Funct. 2021 Dec 13;12(24):12683-12695. doi: 10.1039/d1fo02529e.
Dietary polyphenols are phytonutrients exhibiting multiple health benefits in humans including those in infants. However, data on breast milk (poly)phenolic composition are limited, especially among Asian populations. This study aimed to assess the levels of dietary polyphenols and their microbial-derived metabolites in the breast milk of Hong Kong lactating women, and how maternal diet correlated with the phenolic composition in breast milk. Breast milk samples from 89 healthy Hong Kong lactating women (aged 19-40 years) were collected. Maternal intake of plant-based foods and polyphenols was estimated through 3-day dietary records and the Phenol-Explorer database. Twelve commonly consumed polyphenols including their microbial-derived metabolites in breast milk were quantified using an optimized and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method. The effect of maternal intake on breast milk phenolic levels was then examined the Pearson correlation test. The mean concentrations of individual phenolic compounds ranged from 5.1 nmol L (chlorogenic acid) to 731.5 nmol L (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid). Despite suboptimal intake of fruits and vegetables among our participants, breast milk phenolic levels were comparable to those of foreign populations. Significant correlations were found between dietary intake and multiple phenolics, particularly legume and daidzein ( = 0.33, = 0.001), and tea and epicatechin ( = 0.30, = 0.03). Regarding phenolic metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid was significantly correlated with several polyphenols, particularly quercetin ( = 0.34, = 0.002), and equol was exclusively correlated with daidzein ( = 0.46, < 0.001). Our findings support that intake of plant-based foods significantly affects breast milk phenolic composition. Future investigation on the bioavailability and health outcomes in infants is warranted to substantiate the transferability of these bioactive phytonutrients from mother to child through lactation, and to promote maternal intake of polyphenol-rich foods.
膳食多酚是一类植物营养素，对人类（包括婴儿）具有多种健康益处。然而，关于母乳中（多）酚类成分的数据有限，尤其是在亚洲人群中。本研究旨在评估香港哺乳期妇女母乳中膳食多酚及其微生物衍生代谢物的水平，以及母亲饮食与母乳中酚类成分的相关性。收集了89名健康的香港哺乳期妇女（年龄在19至40岁之间）的母乳样本。通过3天的饮食记录和酚类物质探索者数据库估算母亲对植物性食物和多酚的摄入量。使用优化和验证的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法对母乳中12种常见的多酚及其微生物衍生代谢物进行定量。然后通过Pearson相关检验研究母亲摄入量对母乳中酚类水平的影响。个体酚类化合物的平均浓度范围为5.1纳摩尔/升（绿原酸）至731.5纳摩尔/升（3,4-二羟基苯甲酸）。尽管我们的参与者水果和蔬菜摄入量未达最佳水平，但母乳中的酚类水平与外国人群相当。在饮食摄入量与多种酚类物质之间发现了显著相关性，特别是豆类与大豆苷元（r = 0.33，P = 0.001），以及茶与表儿茶素（r = 0.30，P = 0.03）。关于酚类代谢物，3,4-二羟基苯乙酸与几种多酚显著相关，特别是槲皮素（r = 0.34，P = 0.002），而雌马酚仅与大豆苷元相关（r = 0.46，P < 0.001）。我们的研究结果支持摄入植物性食物会显著影响母乳中的酚类成分。未来有必要对婴儿的生物利用度和健康结果进行调查，以证实这些生物活性植物营养素通过哺乳从母亲传递给孩子的可转移性，并促进母亲摄入富含多酚的食物。
