Maternal psychosocial factors determining the concentrations of transforming growth factor‐beta in breast milk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cytokines in breast milk may play crucial roles in the beneficial effects of breastfeeding in protecting against allergic and infectious diseases in infants. In particular, breast milk-borne transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) has an important potential role in developing the mucosal immune system in infants. However, little is known about what factors influence TGF-β expression in human milk. We investigated whether the behavioral and psychosocial characteristics of mothers affect breast milk TGF-β levels. METHODS: We conducted a survey of all 139 mothers who were lactating between February and October 2010 in Koshu City, Japan. Participants completed a questionnaire and provided breast milk at the health checkups for their 3-month-old child (N = 129, 93%). Breast milk was assayed for total TGF-β2 levels by ELISA. We took an exploratory approach based on linear and ordered logistic regressions to model TGF-β2 concentrations with their multiple potential determinants. RESULTS: Mothers with depression or poor self-rated health had higher TGF-β2 concentrations than mothers without depression (odds ratio for a higher TGF-β2 quartile: 3.11, 95% confidence intervals: 1.03-9.37) or those reporting better health (odds ratio: 2.34, 1.21-4.55). Smoking, drinking alcohol, probiotics supplementation, social support, and maternal history of allergic diseases were not associated with milk TGF-β2 levels. Milk gathered between August and October or later in the afternoon (3-4 pm vs. 12-2 pm) contained less TGF-β2. CONCLUSION: Depression, as the consequence of psychosocial stress, may be a strong determinant of TGF-β levels in breast milk. Seasonal and daily fluctuations in milk TGF-β2 concentrations warrant further study.
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Maternal depressive symptoms appeared to be correlated with higher TGF-β2 concentrations.
“Maternal depressive symptoms appeared to be correlated with lower oxytocin,41 total T441 concentrations, and higher TGF-β2 concentrations.77”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [77]
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- Authors
- Kondo, N., Suda, Y., Nakao, A., Oh‐Oka, K., Suzuki, K., Ishimaru, K., Sato, M., Tanaka, T., Nagai, A., & Yamagata, Z.
- Affiliations
- University of Yamanashi (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Kondo, Naoki
- ORCID
- Venue
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-09-19
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 853-861
- ISSN
- 0905-6157 (ISSN-L)
- 1399-3038
- OpenAlex
- W1944068935
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Keywords
- TGF-beta, breast milk, maternal depression, psychosocial factors, breastfeeding, seasonal variation, diurnal variation, cytokines, social support
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Breast Feeding, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Japan, Male, Milk, Human, Seasons, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Logistic Models, Immunity, Mucosal, Depression, Postpartum, Transforming Growth Factor beta2
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