New research suggests that breast milk supports the steady growth of specific microbes in an infant's gut and nasal cavity, which can reduce the child's risk of developing asthma.
Over the past few years, research has shown that microbes in the gut play a significant role in many body functions. Moreover, an imbalance of microbes in the microbiome has been linked to allergies and health conditions such as arthritis and endometriosis.
An infant's microbiome may also impact the development of childhood health conditions. For example, 2020 research found that gut microbiome maturation in the first year of life may help protect against childhood asthma.
It's already known that breastfeeding plays a key role in the development and microbial diversity of a child's microbiome. Scientists recently revealed that breastfeeding for a longer duration may even help lower a child's risk of developing asthma.
However, the reasons behind this protective effect are unclear.
In a new study, published on September 19 in the journal Cell, researchers at NYU Langone Health and the University of Manitoba uncovered evidence that could help explain how breastfeeding impacts childhood asthma risks.
The study's results showed that breast milk supports the development and regulation of specific gut microbes in a breastfed infant, which can reduce the child's risk of developing asthma.
Links between breast milk and asthma
To conduct the research, the NYU team gathered data on the nasal and gut microbiomes, breastfeeding patterns, and mother's breast milk composition of 2,227 children from the CHILD Cohort Study.
The scientists found that the gut and nasal passage microbiomes in children weaned to formula before three months of age showed a sharper rise in microbe growth than the slower, more gradual pace of development seen in infants breastfed beyond three months. This spike in microbes observed in babies weaned to formula early is linked to a higher risk of asthma.
The results remained consistent even after accounting for factors including antibiotic use and maternal asthma history.
The research team notes that breast milk contains complex sugars processed by specific microbes. In contrast, formula contains components that require a different set of organisms.
"Healthy microbiome development is not only about having the right microbes. They also need to arrive in the right order at the right time," said study co-senior investigator Liat Shenhav, Ph.D., an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in a news release.
The research team also found that babies weaned to formula earlier had a bacterium called Ruminococcus gnavus appear sooner than exclusively breastfed children. This particular bacterium plays a role in short-chain fatty acid production and processes related to the amino acid tryptophan, which is linked to immune system disruption and heightened asthma risks.
"Our research highlights the profound impact of breastfeeding on the infant microbiome and breastfeeding's essential role in supporting respiratory health," Shenhav said. "By uncovering the mechanisms behind the protective effects of breast milk, as demonstrated in this study, we aim to inform national guidelines on breastfeeding and weaning from breast milk in a data-driven manner."
Shenhav added that with further research, the study's findings could help develop strategies to prevent asthma in children who are not breastfed for at least three months.
3 resources
- Nature Medicine. Maturation of the gut microbiome during the first year of life contributes to the protective farm effect on childhood asthma.
- Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The association between duration of breastfeeding and childhood asthma outcomes.
- Cell. Microbial colonization programs are structured by breastfeeding and guide healthy respiratory development.
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