University of Manitoba research reveals complexity of human milk

Two international studies published in the journal Science have revealed new insights into the regulation and complexity of human milk. Conducted by the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium and led by the University of Manitoba, the research demonstrates that human milk is a complex biological system rather than a simple collection of nutrients.

The studies found that while some components of breast milk respond to maternal nutritional interventions, others remain stable or reflect specific biological processes related to lactation and infant growth. One study specifically examined how nutritional supplements during lactation modify milk components, while the second investigated how milk composition provides clues regarding the functioning of the lactating breast.

The research involved more than 1,000 mother and infant pairs from Canada, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and Pakistan. Researchers analyzed nearly 2,000 human milk samples for more than 25,000 compounds. The project was funded by the Gates Foundation.