Maternal obesity and its repercussions on melatonin and cortisol in breast milk and human colostrum

Abstract

Introduction: scientific evidence has highlighted the role of chronobiological disruptions in promoting obesity through mechanisms involving important circadian rhythm hormones: melatonin and cortisol. These hormones are present in human colostrum and serve as crucial maternal and child protection mechanisms against obesity and childhood infections, owing to the intense interaction between mother and child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Consequently, the melatonin and cortisol hormones present in human colostrum hold promise as potential candidates for yielding clinically applicable results and supporting future intervention strategies aimed at reducing obesity and neonatal infections. However, there is a scarcity of literature on this subject. Objective: the objective of this study is to describe the impact of maternal obesity on the levels and/or actions of melatonin and cortisol in colostrum and breast milk. Methods: a systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted following the recommendations outlined in the PRISMA protocol. Original articles published in English were searched in the PubMed, Medline, Lilacs, and Scopus databases. There were no restrictions on the publication year. Results: a total of 37 articles were identified from the searched databases. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only five studies were relevant to the topic: two studies addressing melatonin and three studies analyzing cortisol. This review revealed that melatonin levels are elevated in the colostrum of obese women, and for this particular group, it has the potential to restore phagocyte activity and increase lymphocyte proliferation. Studies on cortisol have demonstrated that maternal obesity does not alter the levels of this hormone in breast milk. Conclusion: breastfeeding should be encouraged for all populations, and further original research should be conducted to elucidate the protective mechanisms of colostrum and breast milk.