The human milk microbiome is minimally associated with breastfeeding practices

The human milk microbiome is dominated by typical oral and skin bacteria, suggesting that bacterial communities from the infant mouth and maternal skin contribute to the development of the human milk microbiome. It is postulated that breastfeeding characteristics, such as breastfeeding frequency and duration, could lead to different levels of exposure to oral and skin bacteria, and subsequently, altered bacterial profiles in human milk.

Citation:
Xu R, Nicol MP, Cheema AS, McEachran JL, et al. The human milk microbiome is minimally associated with breastfeeding practices. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1).

Keywords:
Breast pumps; Breastfeeding; Human milk; Infant feeding; Lactation; Microbiome

Abstract:
The human milk microbiome is dominated by typical oral and skin bacteria, suggesting that bacterial communities from the infant mouth and maternal skin contribute to the development of the human milk microbiome. It is postulated that breastfeeding characteristics, such as breastfeeding frequency and duration, could lead to different levels of exposure to oral and skin bacteria, and subsequently, altered bacterial profiles in human milk.