Effects of Diet During Breastfeeding on Infants
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 255
Special Issue Editor
Interests: neonate; nutrition; pregnancy; epigenetic pattern; microbiota; metabolism; probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In this Special Issue of Nutrients, we will bring together papers focusing on the influence of maternal nutrition and infant health and growth.
Proper maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is crucial for optimal fetal development, infant growth, and long-term health outcomes.
During pregnancy, a well-balanced diet is essential to prevent fetal complications and support an optimal intrauterine environment. In the postpartum period, maternal caloric reserves play a critical role in sustaining sufficient energy levels for breastfeeding. Human milk composition dynamically adapts to various maternal factors, including diet, nutritional status, and body composition.
Recent studies have highlighted significant correlations between maternal body composition and human milk macronutrient profiles. For instance, total protein content in breast milk has been linked to maternal fat mass, fat-free mass, and muscle mass. Similarly, milk fat content appears to be positively correlated with the maternal body mass index (BMI), particularly during the first month postpartum. These findings suggest that maternal body composition directly influences the nutritional quality of breast milk, regardless of dietary patterns.
Inadequate maternal energy intake during lactation can lead to the depletion of maternal nutrient stores, potentially compromising both maternal health and infant growth. For example, low maternal vitamin B12 intake during lactation has been associated with decreased vitamin B12 content in breast milk, which can result in permanent neurological impairments in infants.
Additionally, specific fatty acids in human milk are influenced by maternal diet, either sourced from maternal plasma or synthesized endogenously in the mammary glands. The composition of these lipids plays a crucial role in infant brain development and immune function.
Beyond macronutrient and micronutrient composition, maternal diet during lactation may also shape the infant gut microbiome through the transfer of maternal microbes during delivery and breastfeeding. The microbiome, in turn, influences immune system maturation, inflammation regulation, and susceptibility to infections and diseases.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that explore various aspects of maternal nutrition during breastfeeding and its impact on the following:
- Human milk composition (macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds);
- Infant growth and metabolic health;
- Neurodevelopment and cognitive function;
- Infant gut microbiome and immune programming.
We look forward to receiving your contributions and to advancing scientific knowledge in this critical area of maternal and child health.
Dr. Giorgia Sebastiani
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- breastfeeding
- post-partum
- nutritional profile
- neonate
- microbiota
- metabolism
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