Biological underpinnings of breastfeeding challenges: the role of genetics, diet, and environment on lactation physiology.

ABSTRACT: Lactation is a dynamic process that has evolved to produce a complex biological fluid that provides nutritive and nonnutritive factors to the nursing offspring. It has long been assumed that once lactation is successfully initiated, the primary factor regulating milk production is infant demand. Thus, most interventions have focused on improving breastfeeding education and early lactation support. However, in addition to infant demand, increasing evidence from studies conducted in experimental animal models, production animals, and breastfeeding women suggests that a diverse array of maternal factors may also affect milk production and composition. In this review, we provide an overview of our current understanding of the role of maternal genetics and modifiable factors, such as diet and e

SUBMITTER: Lee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5005964 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature