Prenatal overweight/ obesity (OW/ OB) can alter colostrum lipid patterns, thereby affecting the lipid metabolism and even the cognitive and healthy development of infants. However, studies on changes in colostrum lipids in the context of OW/OB are limited, particularly for glycerides and polar lipids. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of maternal prenatal weight on colostrum in lipid subclasses and molecular species. The concentration of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in the colostrum of the OW/OB group (35894.43 mg/L) was higher than that of the normal weight (NW) group (26639.20 mg/L), suggesting that colostrum from OW/OB mothers could provide more energy to their infants. Further analysis of the fatty acid composition of TAGs revealed that elevated maternal body weight enhanced the concentration of TAGs containing saturated or n-6 fatty acids and shortened the carbon number of TAGs. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/arachidonic acid (AA)/choline-containing lipids, such as DHA-containing TAGs, AA/DHA-containing phosphatidylethanolamine, and choline-containing phospholipids, were present in higher levels in the colostrum of OW/OB mothers than NW mothers. However, the concentrations of palmitic acid-containing TAGs, linoleic acid-containing TAGs, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid-containing TAGs, and polar lipids and the ratio of TAGs containing n-6 fatty acid/n-3 fatty acid were significantly higher in the colostrum of OW/OB mothers than in that of NW mothers. The fatty acid composition and sphingoid bases of sphingolipids were also altered due to elevated body weight. In conclusion, OW/OB affects colostrum lipids with respect to composition, concentration, and percentage. Although the colostrum of healthy OW/OB mothers can provide sufficient DHA/AA/choline-containing lipids to their infants, normalization of body weight and fat reserves should be considered as a strategy for high-quality human milk lipids.

Probiotics show anti-influenza activity, offering a potential variant-resistant alternative for infection prevention and control. In this study, we evaluated whether a  specially formulated yogurt enriched with synbiotics (named yogurt 1 in this study) with seven probiotics and six prebiotics, has anti-influenza effects and its underlying mechanisms using a mouse model challenged with influenza virus H1N1 PR8 strain. The mice were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (negative control), yogurt matrix, yogurt 1, and oseltamivir (positive control), respectively. yogurt 1 treatment improved the survival of infected mice (from 0% to 30%), alleviated pathological injuries in the lungs and colon, and reduced the viral load of influenza virus on days 3 and 7 post-infection. yogurt 1 also downregulated some inflammation-related signaling pathways and reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines or chemokines in the lungs or serum, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC). The levels of short-chain fatty acids in the cecal content were increased, the diversity of the intestinal flora was partially restored, and influenza-specific IgG and interferon-secreting lymphocytes were enhanced following yogurt 1 administration. Thus, yogurt 1, as a commercial and easily accessible dairy product, demonstrated a notable anti-influenza effect in mice by inhibiting viral proliferation, suppressing excessive inflammatory responses, and promoting influenza virus-specific adaptive humoral and cellular immune responses, demonstrating its potential for influenza epidemic prevention and control.

Nutrients in human milk, including minerals, relate growth and development of breast-fed infants. Tibetan mother-infant dyads possess unique characteristics on early nutrition due to their featured long-lasting life-style. This study longitudinally investigated the relationship between the mineral composition in human milk and the Z-scores of infants among Tibetan mother-infant dyads during their first 6 months postpartum through a prospective cohort study. The results show that the minerals of Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cu, Zn, and Se were of higher levels in colostrum than other lactation stages. Several minerals were below the recommended values for infants according to Chinese dietary guidelines. Besides, a large proportion of infant Z-scores were below −2 as lactation period continued. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that classifications and correlations in varying degrees were observed between minerals in human milk and infant Z-scores. These findings will be advantageous for research upon Chinese early nutrition and progress of tailor-made infant formula.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disease afflicting women of childbearing age. It is characterized by irregular menstruation, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenemia, and polycystic ovary morphology. As a complex endocrine-metabolic syndrome, PCOS shares several endocrine-metabolic features with the metabolic syndrome (MS), with insulin resistance at the core of their pathogenic mechanisms. PCOS and MS are interrelated and thus have similarities in treatment. Currently, the common treatment modalities for both are lifestyle intervention, medication, and surgery. More studies have shown that lifestyle intervention and regulation of intestinal flora are more effective and sustainable. However, progress towards treatment and cure is hampered by unclear etiology and mechanisms. This review aimed to summarize the relationship between PCOS and MS, the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, and the current nutritional therapeutic strategies, especially lifestyle modifications and modulation of intestinal flora. Lifestyle interventions combined with the regulation of gut flora can be a new perspective for treatment. This perspective has a positive significance in the early diagnosis, adoption of personalized treatment plans, and prevention of complications in PCOS and MS. The need to prevent the occurrence of MS in patients with PCOS should be emphasized.

The aging of the global population has made postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention essential; however, pharmacological treatments are limited. Herein, we evaluate the effect of calcium-fortified fresh milk (FM) in ameliorating postmenopausal osteoporosis in a rat model established using bilateral ovariectomy. After 3 months of FM (containing vitamin D, and casein phosphopeptides, 1000 mg Ca/100 g) or control milk (110 mg Ca/100 g milk) supplementation, bone changes were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, microcomputed tomography, and bone biomechanical testing. The results revealed that FM can regulate bone metabolism and gut microbiota composition, which act on bone metabolism through pathways associated with steroid hormone biosynthesis, relaxin signaling, serotonergic synapse, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, FM administration signif icantly increased bone mineral content and density in the lumbar spine and femur, as well as femoral compressive strength, while improving femoral trabecular bone parameters and microarchitecture. Mechanistically, we found that the effects may be due to increased levels of estrogen, bone formation marker osteocalcin, and procollagen type Ⅰ N-propeptide, and decreased expression of the bone resorption marker C-telopeptide and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b. Overall, the f indings suggest that FM is a potential alternative therapeutic option for ameliorating postmenopausal osteoporosis.