Butyrate is a fatty acid found in breast milk. It has many biological functions such as being anti-inflammatory, preventing insulin tolerance and obesity.
Previous research has shown that intestinal anaerobic bacteria synthesize butyrate by fermenting indigestible carbohydrates. Among many short fatty acids (such as acetate and propionate), butyrate is an important energy source used by colonic epithelial cells.
in 24News Breaker. The technology emerged telegraph channel. Subscribe so you don’t miss the latest and exciting news from the world of science!
Although there are many studies on intestinal butyrate, most of them do not clarify the origin of breast milk butyrate. It has been suggested that the maternal gut microbiota synthesizes butyrate, which can pass into breast milk through the maternal bloodstream. To date, no evidence has been documented pointing to local butyrate production at the expense of the microbiota. At the same time, studies proving the ability of this fatty acid to prevent weight gain are not sufficient.
about the study
The study was conducted among healthy mothers who had a healthy pre-pregnancy body mass index and breastfed their babies for at least six weeks. A total of 71 couple mothers with babies were included.
The authors measured the total amount of breastmilk consumed by an infant using deuterium water (water containing deuterium atoms instead of hydrogen atoms that can be traced in the body). The composition of breast milk, the amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates, butyrate itself, and the diversity of the mother’s and infant’s microbiota were also evaluated. In addition to all of the above, the amount of subcutaneous fat was also analyzed.
Research results
Overall, negative associations were found between breastmilk butyrate concentrations and measures of infant body weight and obesity. This finding is consistent with a previous study reporting that butyrate prevents excess weight gain and childhood obesity.
Since the concentration of butyrate in breast milk has been found to be inversely proportional to the volume of breast milk consumption, it has been suggested that high butyrate concentration in GM may cause low milk intake in some infants. The authors suggested that butyrate milk’s ability to regulate odor and/or taste and appetite could potentially reduce infant GD intake.
The findings regarding the idea of origin of breast milk butyrate turned out to be very interesting. A fairly large number of bacterial species that synthesize this fatty acid have been found in breast milk. Previously, such strains were only found in the microbiota of the colon, as they are anaerobic (microorganisms that can live in oxygen-free conditions). How such bacteria get into breast milk is still a mystery.
Previously Focus wrote about the taste of breast milk and can adults drink it? According to Alexa Mises Malchak, MD, family physician at the Center for Family Medicine, North Carolina, USA, breast milk tastes completely different from cow’s milk.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.