Human Milk Nutrition and Brain Development

Breastfeeding provides infants with human milk, a unique source of nutrients and bioactive compounds that actively shape early brain development. Beyond nutrition, breastfeeding exposes the infant to maternal factors—such as hormones, antibodies, and microRNAs—that influence the infant’s epigenome and neurodevelopmental programming. Early epigenetic modulation, driven by nutrients like folate and choline and by maternal microRNAs, regulates gene expression critical for neurodevelopment. This process affects neuronal growth and synaptogenesis. Maternal exposures, including diet, gene polymorphism (FADS2 gene) and environment, further impact the composition of human milk, the intestinal microbiote and its epigenetic effects. Thus, breastfeeding not only nourishes but also programs the infant brain, laying the foundation for lifelong neurodevelopmental health through dynamic epigenetic influences.Breast milk is now recognised as a key component of infant health, far beyond its nutritional value alone. Rich in essential nutrients, structural lipids and transcription factor ligands, bioactive proteins and complex oligosaccharides, it plays a decisive role in growth, immunity and early brain development. Recent advances in nutrition, neurobiology, microbiota research and epigenetics have profoundly renewed our understanding of the mechanisms by which human milk influences brain maturation and neurodevelopment. The study of human neuropathology reveals that developmental disorders may involve both triggering and aggravating factors. For example, a deficiency in DHA or in DHA/EPA (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) can act as an aggravating factor in conditions such as hyperactivity, idiopathic epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These conditions demonstrate how essential nutrients, microbiota composition, and perinatal factors jointly shape early neurodevelopmental outcomes.In this rapidly expanding scientific context, we are pleased to launch this Research Topic devoted to “Human Milk, Nutrition and Brain Development”.We invite researchers, clinicians, nutritionists and neuroscientists to submit original articles, literature reviews, clinical studies, translational work or mechanistic analyses focusing in particular on:- The bioactive components of human milk and their effects on the developing brain- The effect of ultra-processed foods on the composition of breast milk- The role of lipids (DHA, EPA, ARA, nervonic acid) in myelination and neural plasticity- The impact of FADS2 gene polymorphism (delta-6 desaturase) on the composition of milk (DHA, EPA, ARA)- The neurodevelopmental functions of breast milk proteins (lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, etc.)- The impact of oligosaccharides (HMOs) and gut microbiota on the gut–brain axis and their influence on infant neurodevelopment- The epigenetic effects of breast milk on brain gene expression and long-term neurological health- Metabolic functions of the brain (glucose metabolism, ascorbic acid, clearance of Aβ amyloids, BDNF)- Potential neuropathologies in at-risk infants and related nutritional prevention and intervention strategies- Clinical, nutritional or technological perspectives aimed at optimising neurodevelopmental health in infantsWe particularly encourage interdisciplinary work and innovative approaches that shed light on the complex links between early nutrition and brain development. Topic editors: Claude Billeaud, Maria Consolata Miletta, Didier MAJOU Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81097/human-milk-nutrition-and-brain-development