Inflammatory and metabolic breast milk profiles associated with maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on infant growth and development

<p dir="ltr">The present study, aimed to build on the knowledge base of HEU infants, compared to HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) infants. The current study determined whether inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)], and antimicrobial peptides [beta-defensin-2, lactoferrin (LTF), lysozyme (LZM), and tenascin C (TNC)], as well as the metabolic profile (2-oxoglutaric acid, butyric acid, caproic acid, 6`-sialyllactose, lacto-n-neooctaose, myo-inositol, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and uridine) found in breast milk at the time of birth (colostrum), during exclusive breast feeding (6 ± 4 weeks postpartum), and following the introduction of solids into the infants diet (6 ± 3 months postpartum) are associated with suboptimal infant growth. </p>