The Effects of Leptin on Breastfeeding Behaviour

Anna M. Cannon, Foteini Kakulas, Anna R. Hepworth, Ching Tat Lai, Peter E. Hartmann and Donna T. Geddes
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Anna M. Cannon: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Foteini Kakulas: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Anna R. Hepworth: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Ching Tat Lai: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Peter E. Hartmann: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Donna T. Geddes: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Breastfed infants have a reduced risk of becoming overweight and/or obese later in life. This protective effect has been partly attributed to leptin present in breastmilk. This study investigated 24-h variations of skim milk leptin and its relationship with breastmilk macronutrients and infant breastfeeding patterns. Exclusive breastfeeding mothers of term singletons ( n = 19; age 10 ± 5 weeks) collected pre- and post-feed breastmilk samples for every breastfeed over a 24-h period and test-weighed their infants to determine milk intake at every breastfeed over a 24-h period. Samples ( n = 454) were analysed for leptin, protein, lactose and fat content. Skim milk leptin concentration did not change with feeding ( p = 0.184). However, larger feed volumes (>105 g) were associated with a decrease in post-feed leptin levels ( p = 0.009). There was no relationship between the change in leptin levels and change in protein ( p = 0.313) or lactose levels ( p = 0.587) between pre- and post-feed milk, but there was a trend for a positive association with changes in milk fat content ( p = 0.056). Leptin concentration significantly increased at night ( p < 0.001) indicating a possible 24-h pattern. Leptin dose (ng) was not associated with the time between feeds ( p = 0.232). Further research should include analysis of whole breastmilk and other breastmilk fractions to extend these findings.

Keywords: leptin; human milk; breast milk; breastfeeding; appetite regulation; lactation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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