Photo Credit: Fanny Renaud
Scientific Frontline: "At a Glance" Summary: Exclusive Breastfeeding and Epigenetic Modifications
- Main Discovery: Infants who are exclusively breastfed for a minimum of three months display distinct, long-term DNA methylation marks in their blood on genes related to immunity and developmental processes.
- Methodology: Researchers from the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium analyzed blood samples from children aged 5 to 12 years, comparing their DNA methylation profiles with pre-breastfeeding umbilical cord samples and correlating the findings with early childhood breastfeeding questionnaires.
- Key Data: The international study evaluated genome-wide epigenetic data from 3,421 children across 11 cohorts in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and South Africa.
- Significance: This finding establishes a clear molecular correlation between exclusive breastfeeding and persistent epigenetic changes in immunity-related genes, providing biological context for the recognized short- and long-term health benefits associated with breastfeeding.
- Future Application: Subsequent research will focus on analyzing more diverse demographic groups to fully decipher the biology of these epigenetic marks and determine whether these specific chemical modifications directly alter physical immunity or developmental outcomes.
- Branch of Science: Epigenetics, Molecular Biology, Pediatrics, Immunology.
Babies who are exclusively breastfed for at least three months carry markers in their blood that differ from babies who are not breastfed.
The finding comes from the largest study of its kind, conducted across an international consortium. Researchers studied blood sample data in children, looking at epigenetic marks across the genome. Epigenetics refers to chemical changes to DNA which influence which genes are active and how they function. Specifically, the team looked at the epigenetic process of DNA methylation, a chemical process which can be detected in blood samples.
The research was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol and was published in Clinical Epigenetics. The study found DNA methylation marks on genes associated with immunity and developmental processes were higher on average in children who had been exclusively breastfed for at least three months, compared to those who had not been breastfed.
However, the study did not look at whether the children had any difference in their immunity or development because of carrying these epigenetic marks.
Study co-lead Dr Doretta Caramaschi, of the University of Exeter, said: “Our findings show that babies who are exclusively breastfed carry epigenetic changes associated with that experience. The genes that are affected by these markers are involved in developmental and immunity processes, but we can’t say from our study whether this affects those highly complex processes directly. “
Research has shown separately that breastfeeding is associated with short- and long-term beneficial effects on child health.
Dr Mariona Bustamante, of ISGlobal, an institution supported by the la Caixa Foundation, added: “Our results are new and interesting, but we do need to interpret them with some caution. Our study is designed to be collaborative and international; however, we need to study more diverse groups to fully understand this biology.”
The research was conducted via the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium, made of 11 studies internationally, in countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Greece, Lithuania, Germany, South Africa and US, including a cohort of mixed ethnicity. In the UK, the study involved the Bristol-based Children of the 90s study, the Born in Bradford study and the Isle of Wight Birth Cohort Study. The analysis incorporated epigenetic data from 3,421 children across these studies.
Researchers looked at whether the babies were breastfed and for how long and whether they were exclusively breastfed, and for how long. Information on breastfeeding was collected through questionnaires from birth. DNA methylation marks were measured from samples taken when the children were aged 5 to 12 years and compared to those in samples taken from the umbilical cord to assess pre-breastfeeding. Researchers examined whether there was any difference related to the experience of being breastfed.
Funding: The study was published in Clinical Epigenetics with funding from multiple sources including the Medical Research Council, Wellcome, and Horizon 2020.
Published in journal: Clinical Epigenetics
Authors: Doretta Caramaschi, Sílvia Fernández-Barrés, Emma Casey, Adrià Cruells, Darina Czamara, Mohammed El Sharkawy, Hannah R. Elliott, Ruby Fore, Richa Gairola, Olena Gruzieva, Anke Huels, Jari Lahti, Hami Lee, Roberta Magnano San Lio, Anni Malmberg, Toby Mansell, Simon K. Merid, Boris Novakovic, Raffael Ott, Dolors Pelegrí, Faisal I Rezwan, Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, Andreas Weiss, Blandine de Lauzon-Guillain, Liesbeth Duijts, Veit Grote, John W. Holloway, Nastassja Koen, Caroline L. Relton, Dan J. Stein, Heather J. Zar, Joseph M. Braun, Kim M. Cecil, Marie-France Hivert, Sandra Hummel, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Μarianna Karachaliou, Wilfried Karmaus, Manolis Kogevinas, Berthold Koletzko, Inger Kull, Erik Melén, Emily Oken, Katri Räikkönen, Richard Saffery, Martine Vrijheid, John Wright, Kimberly Yolton, Barbara Heude, Janine F. Felix, and Mariona Bustamante
Source/Credit: University of Exeter | Louise Vennells
Reference Number: epig041626_01
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