Shared patterns of human milk composition link mammary gland function to infant growth.

Shared human milk composition patterns linked to mammary gland function predict infant growth, with seven biomarkers reflecting key mammary domains.

• Why it matters: Understanding how mammary gland activity influences milk composition and infant outcomes can improve strategies to support infant growth and maternal health.
• What they did: Analyzing 1,543 human milk samples using multi-omics approaches, including metabolomics and proteomics, across three cohorts, with machine learning to identify key biomarkers.
• The result: Elevated valerylcarnitine and low pantothenic acid are metabolic signals associated with mammary functional state and infant growth, enabling noninvasive assessment of milk quality.