Yehao Chen,1 Amber Jiachi Chiou,2,3 Agnes Sze Yin Leung,1,4 Kate Ching Ching Chan,1 Mei Kam Chang,1 Nam Sze Cheng,1 Paul Kay Sheung Chan,5 Man Sau Wong,2,3 Wing Hung Tam,6 Ting Fan Leung1,4

Affiliations:
1 Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2 Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
3 Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
4 Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
5 Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

Abstract

Background: The health benefits of breastfeeding are partly contributed by human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), but there is limited data on breast milk (BM) HMO composition in Chinese.
Objective: This study investigated the association between early-life HMO intake and allergy occurrence in Chinese children.
Methods: 103 healthy Chinese pregnant women regardless of allergy history were recruited into this birth cohort. Their babies were followed until 24 months old. Concentrations of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), 3’-sialyllactose (3’-SL) and 6’-sialyllactose (6’-SL) in BM collected at 1-month postpartum were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The associations between these HMOs and allergy occurrence by 24 months were analyzed by multivariate regression analyses.
Results: Twenty-nine percent and 19% of participants had eczema at 12 and 24 months old respectively. Eighty BM samples were analyzed, with 2’-FL being the most abundant HMO (median 1447 ppm, interquartile range [IQR] 291-1906 ppm), and median (IQR) levels of LNnT, 6’-SL and 3’-SL in ppm were 738 (580-950), 20.5 (12.7-38.8) and 23.0 (17.8-27.6) respectively. Participants with eczema by 24 months consumed BM with higher 2’-FL concentration at 1-month (P = 0.008), and also lower 6’-SL concentration in exclusively breastfed infants (P = 0.012) but higher 6’-SL concentration for those with mixed feeding at 1 month (P = 0.043). Food allergic children at 12 months consumed BM with higher 2’-FL concentrations at 1 month (P = 0.048).
Conclusions: BM 2’-FL concentration is higher in children who develops eczema by 24 months and food allergy during infancy. The relationship for 6’-SL is divergent depending on mode of feeding in infants.
Key words: Birth cohort, breastfeeding, eczema, human milk oligosaccharide, prevention