Human milk’s polyamine: a potential advancement as biomarker

Polyamine composition in human milk comprises putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, each playing distinct roles in infant development and digestive health. Variation in composition occurs across lactation stages and influenced by factors like maternal dietary intake. Imbalanced diets may hinder infant growth, weaken immunity, and heighten infection risks. This cross- sectional observational study analyzed 30 human milk samples from Melaka, Seremban, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to quantify polyamine content. Maternal diets were recorded in Nutritionist Pro software, with macronutrient intake calculated automatically. Statistical analysis using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) assessed the association between maternal diet and polyamine composition. Carbohydrates were the most consumed macronutrient (59.1%, M = 214.42 g), followed by fat (22.8%, M = 37.36 g) and protein (18.1%, M = 63.40 g). Among polyamines, spermine showed the highest concentration (70.2%, M = 5.4 nmol/L, SD = 5.99), followed by putrescine (22.3%, M = 1.74 nmol/L, SD = 3.38) and spermidine (7.4%, M = 0.58 nmol/L, SD = 0.88). No significant difference was found between maternal dietary intake and polyamine composition. However, a negative correlation existed between polyamine levels and certain macronutrients such as lipids, suggesting involvement in other metabolic processes. This study indicates that while dietary intake may not directly influence polyamine levels in human milk, polyamines may interact with specific nutrients in maternal diets, impacting their metabolism.