Human milk cortisol is inversely associated with infant BMI and mediates the association between maternal plasma and infant salivary cortisol concentrations.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The pathways through which milk cortisol affects infant body weight and adiposity remain poorly understood.

Aims

To assess the influence of maternal weight status on maternal cortisol concentrations and infant outcomes; to evaluate the relationship between maternal plasma and milk cortisol concentrations and infant salivary cortisol, body weight and adiposity during the first 3 months of life in a cohort of exclusively breastfed infants; to determine whether milk cortisol mediates these effects; and to explore the association between infant salivary cortisol and measures of body weight and adiposity.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, we measured cortisol concentrations in plasma and milk samples from lactating women at 10 days (n = 68) and 3 mon

SUBMITTER: Kruger AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12396966 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature