High-Fructose Corn-Syrup-Sweetened Beverage Intake Increases 5-Hour Breast Milk Fructose Concentrations in Lactating Women

Nutrients. 2018 May 24;10(6):669. doi: 10.3390/nu10060669.

Abstract

This study determined the effects of consuming a high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)-sweetened beverage on breast milk fructose, glucose, and lactose concentrations in lactating women. At six weeks postpartum, lactating mothers (n = 41) were randomized to a crossover study to consume a commercially available HFCS-sweetened beverage or artificially sweetened control beverage. At each session, mothers pumped a complete breast milk expression every hour for six consecutive hours. The baseline fasting concentrations of breast milk fructose, glucose, and lactose were 5.0 ± 1.3 µg/mL, 0.6 ± 0.3 mg/mL, and 6.8 ± 1.6 g/dL, respectively. The changes over time in breast milk sugars were significant only for fructose (treatment × time, p < 0.01). Post hoc comparisons showed the HFCS-sweetened beverage vs. control beverage increased breast milk fructose at 120 min (8.8 ± 2.1 vs. 5.3 ± 1.9 µg/mL), 180 min (9.4 ± 1.9 vs. 5.2 ± 2.2 µg/mL), 240 min (7.8 ± 1.7 vs. 5.1 ± 1.9 µg/mL), and 300 min (6.9 ± 1.4 vs. 4.9 ± 1.9 µg/mL) (all p < 0.05). The mean incremental area under the curve for breast milk fructose was also different between treatments (14.7 ± 1.2 vs. -2.60 ± 1.2 µg/mL × 360 min, p < 0.01). There was no treatment × time interaction for breast milk glucose or lactose. Our data suggest that the consumption of an HFCS-sweetened beverage increased breast milk fructose concentrations, which remained elevated up to five hours post-consumption.

Keywords: breast milk; breastfeeding; infant feeding; infant nutrition; lactation; sugar.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Breast Milk Expression
  • Carbonated Beverages*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Fructose / administration & dosage*
  • Fructose / pharmacokinetics
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup / administration & dosage*
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Lactation / metabolism*
  • Lactose / metabolism
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Milk, Human / metabolism*
  • Nutritional Status
  • Oklahoma

Substances

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Fructose
  • Glucose
  • Lactose