Introduction Breast milk cytokines modulate immune function and may influence infant growth, yet longitudinal evidence remains limited, particularly in low-resource settings. This study examined associations between milk cytokines measured within six weeks postpartum and infant growth trajectories from 3 to 12 months in a low-income community in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods Data from 237 mother-infant dyads were drawn from a prospective cohort study. Cytokines were quantified in breast milk (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ). Anthropometrics at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were converted to WHO z-scores. Associations were examined using linear mixed-effects models adjusting for key maternal and infant covariates. Results Higher milk IL-10 was associated with lower weight-for-age and weight-for-length at 9 months and lower length-for-age at 3 and 12 months. Higher IFN-γ was associated with lower weight-for-length at 9 months. IL-6 and IL-8 showed age-related variation but no associations at individual timepoints. Conclusion Breast milk IL-10 showed time-dependent associations with infant growth across multiple indicators throughout the first year, with similar age-related variation observed for some pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that non-nutritive bioactive components of breast milk, and how their effects change across infant development, may contribute to early growth faltering in low-resource settings. Impact <UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> Breast milk IL-10 showed consistent time-dependent associations with infant growth indicators from 3 to 12 months. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Higher milk IL-10 was associated with poorer weight and length outcomes, while pro-inflammatory cytokines showed limited associations at individual timepoints. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Adds to limited longitudinal evidence examining how milk cytokine-growth associations shift across infancy. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Findings suggest that non-nutritive bioactive components of breast milk, and how their effects change across infant development, may contribute to growth faltering beyond nutritional factors alone. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Further research integrating repeated cytokine sampling, multi-compartment immune profiling, and longitudinal growth assessment in similar settings could inform strategies to support optimal growth. </ItemContent> </UnorderedList>

Breast milk cytokines and infant growth trajectories in a low-income community in Bangladesh

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年6月22日

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Jasmine Siew,
Talat Shama,
Eileen F. Sullivan,
Ellen Jopling,
Navin Rahman,
Mamun Kabir,
Rashidul Haque,
William A. Petri,
Charles A. Nelson

摘要

Introduction

Breast milk cytokines modulate immune function and may influence infant growth, yet longitudinal evidence remains limited, particularly in low-resource settings. This study examined associations between milk cytokines measured within six weeks postpartum and infant growth trajectories from 3 to 12 months in a low-income community in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Methods

Data from 237 mother-infant dyads were drawn from a prospective cohort study. Cytokines were quantified in breast milk (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ). Anthropometrics at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were converted to WHO z-scores. Associations were examined using linear mixed-effects models adjusting for key maternal and infant covariates.

Results

Higher milk IL-10 was associated with lower weight-for-age and weight-for-length at 9 months and lower length-for-age at 3 and 12 months. Higher IFN-γ was associated with lower weight-for-length at 9 months. IL-6 and IL-8 showed age-related variation but no associations at individual timepoints.

Conclusion

Breast milk IL-10 showed time-dependent associations with infant growth across multiple indicators throughout the first year, with similar age-related variation observed for some pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that non-nutritive bioactive components of breast milk, and how their effects change across infant development, may contribute to early growth faltering in low-resource settings.

Impact

Breast milk IL-10 showed consistent time-dependent associations with infant growth indicators from 3 to 12 months.

Higher milk IL-10 was associated with poorer weight and length outcomes, while pro-inflammatory cytokines showed limited associations at individual timepoints.

Adds to limited longitudinal evidence examining how milk cytokine-growth associations shift across infancy.

Findings suggest that non-nutritive bioactive components of breast milk, and how their effects change across infant development, may contribute to growth faltering beyond nutritional factors alone.

Further research integrating repeated cytokine sampling, multi-compartment immune profiling, and longitudinal growth assessment in similar settings could inform strategies to support optimal growth.