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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Analysis of Human Milk Leptin and Ghrelin in Relation to Maternal Factors and Infant Weight Gain Within Six Months
Bożena Kulesza-Brończyk 1
,
 
Agnieszka Bzikowska-Jura 2,3
,
 
Agnieszka Bień 4
,
 
Aleksandra Mołas 3
,
 
Aleksandra Wesołowska 3
,
 
Tomasz Molcan 5,6
,
 
Dominika Gutkowska-Kawka 7
,
 
Monika Kaczmarek 5,7
 
 
 
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1
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Maternity Care, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland
 
2
Department of Clinical Dietetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Ciołka 27, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland
 
3
Laboratory of Human Milk and Lactation Research, Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Warsaw, Litewska 14/16, 00-575 Warsaw, Poland
 
4
Chair of Obstetrics Development, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 4/5, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
 
5
Molecular Biology Laboratory, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Trylińskiego 18, 10-683 Olsztyn, Poland
 
6
Computational Biology Core facility, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Trylińskiego 18, 10-683 Olsztyn, Poland
 
7
Programming of Fertility and Development Team, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Trylińskiego 18, 10-683 Olsztyn, Poland
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2025-11-26
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-02-19
 
 
Corresponding author
Agnieszka Bzikowska-Jura   

Department of Clinical Dietetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Ciołka 27, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
leptin
ghrelin
maternal BMI
metabolic programming
human milk composition
infant’s growth
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study examined leptin and ghrelin concentrations in human milk (HM) in the first six months of lactation and their associations with maternal characteristics, milk composition, and infant weight gain. Twenty exclusively breastfeeding mothers were recruited from the University Hospital of Białystok, Poland. HM samples were collected at six postpartum intervals, and hormone concentrations were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was recorded, and milk macronutrient composition was analyzed with an HMA analyzer. Mean HM leptin concentrations ranged from 0.30 to 0.41 ng/mL within the first six months of lactation, while mean ghrelin concentrations ranged from 23 to 30 pg/mL. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI correlated positively with ghrelin concentrations at the second postpartum interval but not with leptin levels. Leptin showed a moderate negative correlation with a true protein concentration at 7–8 weeks postpartum. Infant weight gain over the six months postpartum ranged from 370 to 790 g per month, with no significant associations identified between weight gain and hormone levels. Although maternal BMI was associated with ghrelin concentration, this correlation did not translate into measurable differences in infant growth trajectories. The relatively stable concentrations of leptin and ghrelin throughout the first six months of lactation underscore the need for further research on their potential roles in infant growth, gut development, and metabolic programming.
FUNDING
The study did not receive any external funding.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None of the authors declares any conflict of interest, and all have approved the final version of the manuscript.
INFORMED CONSENT
The study adhered to rigorous ethical standards, consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Białystok (approval no. AKP.002.501.2021). All participants were informed about the research objectives and provided written informed consent before enrollment
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