1. Revisiting One-Carbon Metabolites in Human Breast Milk: Focus on S-Adenosylmethionine.
- Author
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Lerin C, Collado MC, Isganaitis E, Arning E, Wasek B, Demerath EW, Fields DA, and Bottiglieri T
- Subjects
- Adult, Child, Infant, Female, Humans, Chromatography, Liquid, Carbon, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Methionine metabolism, Racemethionine, S-Adenosylhomocysteine metabolism, Homocysteine, S-Adenosylmethionine metabolism, Milk, Human metabolism
- Abstract
Breastfeeding is the gold standard for early nutrition. Metabolites from the one-carbon metabolism pool are crucial for infant development. The aim of this study is to compare the breast-milk one-carbon metabolic profile to other biofluids where these metabolites are present, including cord and adult blood plasma as well as cerebrospinal fluid. Breast milk ( n = 142), cord blood plasma ( n = 23), maternal plasma ( n = 28), aging adult plasma ( n = 91), cerebrospinal fluid ( n = 92), and infant milk formula ( n = 11) samples were analyzed by LC-MS/MS to quantify choline, betaine, methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine, total homocysteine, and cystathionine. Differences between groups were visualized by principal component analysis and analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Correlation analysis was performed between one-carbon metabolites in human breast milk. Principal component analysis based on these metabolites separated breast milk samples from other biofluids. The S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) concentration was significantly higher in breast milk compared to the other biofluids and was absent in infant milk formulas. Despite many significant correlations between metabolites in one-carbon metabolism, there were no significant correlations between SAM and methionine or total homocysteine. Together, our data indicate a high concentration of SAM in breast milk, which may suggest a strong demand for this metabolite during infant early growth while its absence in infant milk formulas may indicate the inadequacy of this vital metabolic nutrient., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.
- Published
- 2023
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