The protective effect of breastfeeding on infant inflammation: a mediation analysis of the plasma lipidome and metabolome
Any breastfeeding, regardless of supplementary feeding, was associated with lower inflammation, fewer infections, and significant, potentially beneficial changes in metabolomic and lipidomic markers, particularly plasmalogens. There was evidence of bidirectional mediation: metabolomic biomarkers and lipids mediated breastfeeding's effects on inflammation, while inflammation partly mediated breastfeeding's impact on certain metabolites and lipids. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight pathways through which breastfeeding reduces inflammation and infection burden, identifying potential targets for optimising infant feeding.
Authors
- Mimi L.K. Tang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3839-5293)
- Alexandra D. George (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7079-6647)
- Peter Vuillermin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6580-0346)
- Thy Duong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2521-078X)
- Tingting Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1269-7939)
- Toby Mansell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1282-6331)
- Satvika Burugupalli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8866-1756)
- Anne‐Louise Ponsonby (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-3657)
- Thomas W. McDade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5829-648X)
- Richard Saffery (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9510-4181)
- Habtamu B. Beyene
- Sudip Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1448-2269)
Institutions
- Northwestern University (US)
- Barwon Health (AU)
- Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (AU)
- Deakin University (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- La Trobe University (AU)
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (AU)
- Baker Engineering (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Medicine
- Published
- 2025-10-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04343-0
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Infant Nutrition and Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.24
Funders
- Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute
- Jack Brockhoff Foundation
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute
- Equity Trustees
- Deakin University
- State Government of Victoria
- Minderoo Foundation
- Percy Baxter Charitable Trust
- Shepherd Foundation
- Barwon Health Foundation
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council