WAPM Working Group on Nutrition: Potential chronobiotic role of human milk in sleep regulation
-
Sertac Arslanoglu
,
Enrico Bertino
Abstract
Background: Organization of the sleep states and a normal sleep pattern in the neonatal period and early infancy is essential for brain development and plasticity. The establishment of a consolidated circadian sleep-wake cycle occurs between 1 and 4 months of life in term infants. This period may be even longer for preterm infants who are exposed to relentless interventions in neonatal intensive care units. The sleep should be respected and protected.
Objective and methods: Human milk (HM) contains bioactive sleep-promoting components, and recent evidence shows that some of these components show circadian oscillations. This article reviews the existing evidence regarding the role of these HM components on sleep. This topic is prefaced with a brief information about the basic concepts concerning sleep. Consecutively, chronobiotic and chrononutrition concepts are introduced.
Results: Melatonin, tryptophan, nucleosides/nucleotides, and vitamin B12 are components of HM that have sleep-promoting characteristics. The sleep-inducing effects of these components are well-established in animal and adult human studies. Interestingly, melatonin, tryptophan, and 5′-adenosine monophosphate and 5′-guanosine monophosphate nucleotides in HM have been shown to exhibit also circadian oscillations. Although 5′-uridine monophosphate does not have a circadian rhythm, its levels increase during the night.
Conclusion: HM has a potential to function as a “synchronizer,” helping the infant to consolidate a circadian sleep-wake cycle, thanks to its several bioactive components with chronobiotic characteristics. Research is warranted to address gaps in this field, such as the association between the circadian oscillations of the sleep-promoting factors in HM and the quantity/quality of infant sleep.
©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Review article
- WAPM Working Group on Nutrition: Potential chronobiotic role of human milk in sleep regulation
- Opinion Paper
- “Every case of asphyxia can be used as a learning example”. Conclusions from an analysis of substandard obstetrical care
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Hematologic profile of the fetus with systemic inflammatory response syndrome
- Optimized amniotic fluid analysis in patients suspected of intrauterine infection/inflammation
- Risk factors for preterm delivery with placenta previa
- Recombinant human factor VIIa prevents hysterectomy in severe postpartum hemorrhage: single center study
- Combination antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors in HIV-infected pregnancy
- Vitamin D status during normal pregnancy and postpartum. A longitudinal study in 141 Danish women
- The impact of the time interval between two successive deliveries in an obstetric unit in terms of the mode of each delivery and the rate of perinatal mortality
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Terbutaline: effects on the fetal heart at term
- Parallel maternal and fetal immune activation by bacterial toxins in vitro
- Original Articles – Newborn
- Prepregnancy body mass index, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and breastfeeding practices
- Fetal and neonatal outcome in patients with anterior abdominal wall defects (gastroschisis and omphalocele)
- Total serum bilirubin level in umbilical cord blood and respiratory distress syndrome in very low birth weight infants
- Short Communication
- Improved overall delivery documentation following implementation of a standardized shoulder dystocia delivery form
- Letters to the Editor
- Prevention of prematurity – a complex undertaking
- Prevention of prematurity – a complex undertaking reply
- Congress calendar
- 10.1515/JPM-2011-1000
Articles in the same Issue
- Review article
- WAPM Working Group on Nutrition: Potential chronobiotic role of human milk in sleep regulation
- Opinion Paper
- “Every case of asphyxia can be used as a learning example”. Conclusions from an analysis of substandard obstetrical care
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Hematologic profile of the fetus with systemic inflammatory response syndrome
- Optimized amniotic fluid analysis in patients suspected of intrauterine infection/inflammation
- Risk factors for preterm delivery with placenta previa
- Recombinant human factor VIIa prevents hysterectomy in severe postpartum hemorrhage: single center study
- Combination antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors in HIV-infected pregnancy
- Vitamin D status during normal pregnancy and postpartum. A longitudinal study in 141 Danish women
- The impact of the time interval between two successive deliveries in an obstetric unit in terms of the mode of each delivery and the rate of perinatal mortality
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Terbutaline: effects on the fetal heart at term
- Parallel maternal and fetal immune activation by bacterial toxins in vitro
- Original Articles – Newborn
- Prepregnancy body mass index, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and breastfeeding practices
- Fetal and neonatal outcome in patients with anterior abdominal wall defects (gastroschisis and omphalocele)
- Total serum bilirubin level in umbilical cord blood and respiratory distress syndrome in very low birth weight infants
- Short Communication
- Improved overall delivery documentation following implementation of a standardized shoulder dystocia delivery form
- Letters to the Editor
- Prevention of prematurity – a complex undertaking
- Prevention of prematurity – a complex undertaking reply
- Congress calendar
- 10.1515/JPM-2011-1000
