Human milk cortisol is inversely associated with infant BMI and mediates the association between maternal plasma and infant salivary cortisol concentrations
Authors' conclusion
Our study shows that in exclusively breastfed infants, milk cortisol is inversely associated with BMI z-score and influences salivary cortisol at 3 months postpartum. Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms involved and how these interactions evolve across different stages of lactation.
Study context
- Population
- Lactating women and their exclusively breastfed infants, first 3 months of life34 at 3 months
- Participants
- 68 women
- Outcome
- Associations of maternal plasma and milk cortisol with infant salivary cortisol and BMI z-score
- Follow-up
- 3 months of lactation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Maternal plasma cortisol vs infant salivary cortisol, Beta
- 0.05 (0.00, 0.09), p = 0.038 (95% CI)
- Milk cortisol vs infant salivary cortisol, Beta
- 0.95 (0.51, 1.39), p < 0.001 (95% CI)
- Maternal plasma cortisol vs infant BMI z-score, Beta
- −0.11 (−0.17, −0.04), p = 0.004 (95% CI)
- Milk cortisol vs infant BMI z-score, Beta
- −1.04 (−1.69, −0.39), p = 0.003 (95% CI)
- Plasma–infant salivary cortisol association mediated by milk cortisol
- p = 0.039
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Maternal plasma and milk cortisol vs gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention · 10 days postpartum
- Inversely associated
Infant salivary cortisol vs body weight and adiposity · 3 months of lactation
- Not associated
Original publication
Human milk cortisol is inversely associated with infant BMI and mediates the association between maternal plasma and infant salivary cortisol concentrations. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 31 May 2025. doi:10.
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