Comparative Analysis of Adipokines and Growth Factors in Preterm and Term Breast Milk and Their Role in Infant Growth

Since breast milk provides essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as adipokines and growth factors, which are indispensable for neonatal growth and metabolic regulation, this review seeks to elucidate the differences in these bioactive components between preterm and term breast milk and to evaluate their potential influence on neonatal development. Adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, and visfatin, alongside growth factors including epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, exhibit variable concentrations in preterm versus term milk. Preterm milk generally contains higher levels, potentially reflecting an adaptive response to support accelerated growth. However, findings are inconsistent across studies, likely due to differences in study design, timing of milk collection, analytical methods, and variability in maternal characteristics. Variations in bioactive component profiles between preterm and term milk suggest compensatory mechanisms in preterm lactation. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify these relationships and to elucidate the long-term effects of breast milk adipokines and growth factors on preterm infant growth and metabolic programming.