Person:
Fernández Álvarez, Leonides

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First Name
Leonides
Last Name
Fernández Álvarez
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/80387
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Veterinaria
Department
Farmacia Galénica y Tecnología Alimentaria
Area
Tecnología de los Alimentos
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2020 - 20212
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Author: Fernández Álvarez, Leonides × Subject: 641/642 ×

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Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Human milk cortisol and immune factors over the first three postnatal months: Relations to maternal psychosocial distress
    (PloS ONE, 2020) Aparicio, Marina; Browne, Pamela D.; Hechler, Christine; Beijers, Roseriet; Rodríguez Gómez, Juan Miguel; de Weerth, Carolina; Fernández Álvarez, Leonides
    Background: Many biologically active factors are present in human milk including proteins, lipids, immune factors, and hormones. The milk composition varies over time and shows large inter-individual variability. This study examined variations of human milk immune factors and cortisol concentrations in the first three months post-partum, and their potential associations with maternal psychosocial distress. Methods: Seventy-seven healthy mothers with full term pregnancies were enrolled, of which 51 mothers collected morning milk samples at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-delivery. Maternal psychosocial distress was assessed at 6 weeks post-delivery using questionnaires for stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Immune factors were determined using multiplex immunoassays and included innate immunity factors (IL1β, IL6, IL12, IFNγ, TNFα), acquired immunity factors (IL2, IL4, IL10, IL13, IL17), chemokines (IL8, Groα, MCP1, MIP1β), growth factors (IL5, IL7, GCSF, GMCSF, TGFβ2) and immunoglobulins (IgA, total IgG, IgM). Cortisol was quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A linear mixed effects model was fit to test whether stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms individually predicted human milk cortisol concentrations after accounting for covariates. Repeated measurement analyses were used to compare women with high (n = 13) versus low psychosocial distress (n = 13) for immune factors and cortisol concentrations. Results: Virtually all immune factors and cortisol, with the exception of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF), were detected in the human milk samples. The concentrations of the immune factors decreased during the first 3 months, while cortisol concentrations increased over time. No correlation was observed between any of the immune factors and cortisol. No consistent relationship between postnatal psychosocial distress and concentrations of immune factors was found, whereas higher psychosocial distress was predictive of higher cortisol concentrations in human milk. Conclusion: In the current study we found no evidence for an association between natural variations in maternal distress and immune factor concentrations in milk. It is uncertain if this lack of association would also be observed in studies with larger populations, with less uniform demographic characteristics, or with women with higher (clinical) levels of anxiety, stress and/or depressive symptoms. In contrast, maternal psychosocial distress was positively related to higher milk cortisol concentrations at week 2 post-delivery. Further investigation on maternal psychosocial distress in relation to human milk composition is warranted. .
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    Dietary habits and relationship with the presence of main and trace elements, bisphenol A, tetrabromobisphenol A, and the Lipid, microbiological and immunological profiles of breast milk
    (Nutrients, 2021) Castro Navarro, Irma; Arroyo Rodríguez, Rebeca; Aparicio, Marina; Martínez, María Ángeles; Rovira, Joaquim; Ares, Susana; Cunha, Sara Cristina; Casal, Susana; Oliverira Fernandes, José; Schuhmacher, Marta; Nadal, Martí; Rodríguez Gómez, Juan Miguel; Fernández Álvarez, Leonides
    Breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant, although it can also be a source of abiotic contaminants such as heavy metals or bisphenol A (BPA). The early life exposure to these compounds can lead to serious toxic effects in both the short and long-term. These substances can reach breast milk through the mother’s habits, diet being one of the main routes of exposure. The aim of the present work was to analyse possible associations between the dietary habits of women and the content of major trace elements, BPA, fatty acids and lipids, and the microbiological and immunological profiles of human milk. Possible associations between major trace elements and BPA and the lipid, microbiological and immunological profiles were also analysed. The results of this study support that the microbiological composition of human milk is associated with the dietary habits of the women, and that the consumption of canned drinks is related to the presence of BPA in human milk. Furthermore, some relationships were found between the amount of major trace elements and the microbiological and immunological profile of the milk samples. Finally, the presence of BPA was associated with changes in the immunological profile of human milk.