This World Breastfeeding Week, Mater researchers are celebrating the remarkable power of breastmilk, uncovering new evidence that it could hold the key to preventing Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in early childhood.
The incidence of T1D is rising rapidly across Western countries—faster than can be explained by genetic factors alone. With no current cure, researchers are investigating environmental factors that could prevent the disease from developing, looking closely at the protective properties hidden in breastmilk.
Backed by a $50,000 Translational Research Institute (TRI) LINC grant, a collaborative research team co-led by Mater Midwife and Lactation Consultant Maria Oliveri and Dr Bree Tillett, a bioinformatician from The University of Queensland Frazer Institute, is investigating exactly how long mothers need to breastfeed to maximise these protective benefits.
Mrs Oliveri said that early childhood is a critical window for ‘immune training’, a process where the body learns immune tolerance.
"This training is heavily influenced by the bioactive molecules found in a mother's breastmilk," Mrs Oliveri said.
"By analysing infant stool samples, we have identified specific breastmilk proteins associated with a reduced risk of progressing to islet autoimmunity, the immune system reaction that acts as a precursor to T1D.
“This preliminary data is already showing immense promise."
To understand exactly how this works, the team will analyse 445 breastmilk samples collected from 189 mothers involved in the Australia-wide ENDIA (Environmental Determinants of Islet Auto-Immunity) study. Using highly sensitive mass spectrometry, the researchers expect to identify approximately 4,000 human proteins per sample across different stages of lactation.
The study will also analyse dietary questionnaires completed by the mothers during pregnancy to determine if a mother's diet can actively boost the production of these protective breastmilk proteins.
Through this, the team hopes to provide definitive proof of breastmilk's protective role to help strengthen breastfeeding rates and guide mothers on how long to breastfeed to best protect their children.
For Mrs Oliveri, improving care for patients with T1D is deeply personal. Diagnosed with T1D nine years ago, she understands firsthand the unique challenges and anxieties faced by expectant and new mothers managing the condition.
"Mothers with T1D are very concerned about the likelihood of their infants developing T1D," she said.
"While breastfeeding is widely recommended and celebrated, many mothers with T1D face unique barriers that can make it difficult.
“We hope that by identifying specific protective proteins, this research could eventually lead to the development of fortified infant formulas, offering a viable, protective alternative for mothers who are unable to breastfeed."
The mechanisms uncovered by the Mater and UQ research team could also pave the way for preventing other related autoimmune conditions, such as coeliac disease.
"We hope that this study changes infant care on a global scale," Mrs Oliveri said.
