Programming of future generations during breastfeeding: The intricate relation between metabolic and neurodevelopment disorders

Abstract

Lactation is a crucial postnatal programming window which can interfere with child development and predispose to metabolic disorders later in life, as insulin resistance and obesity. Although breastfeeding is known to prevent many diseases in the newborn, changes in milk composition have been correlated with alterations in central nervous system maturation and differentiation. Changes in milk quality and quantity may predispose to metabolic disorders later in life but have also been linked to the development of neuronal diseases. Maternal metabolic condition, diet and behaviours have been considered determinant for metabolic programming in the child, although the mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. Some of such mechanisms may also be related with the increasing prevalence of neurodevelopmental and behavioural diseases in the younger generations. This review focuses on the interconnected risks between changes of maternal metabolic status/unbalanced diets during lactation and offspring's development of metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, the present review reunites the current knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the association between these disorders and highlights the need of further exploring the impact of lactation period on neurodevelopmental and metabolic outcomes.

Keywords: Lactation; Maternal behaviours; Maternal diet; Maternal metabolic status; Neurodevelopmental disorders.