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Does maternal obesity influence the human milk and the infant?

PhD defense, Thursday, 20th of February, Julie Astono

Julie Astono

During her PhD studies, Julie Astono investigated if maternal obesity affects the composition of human milk focusing on proteins and complex sugars, known as oligosaccharides. Additionally, infant urine metabolites were investigated. Results indicated that only minor variation in the human milk protein profile was correlated with maternal obesity. However, the human milk oligosaccharides and infant urine metabolites were not correlated to maternal obesity. 
These results suggest that development of childhood obesity is not necessarily mediated through the milk, and that human milk remains resilient in composition regardless of maternal weight status, supporting the infant with everything it needs during the first months of life.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Thursday, 20th of February at 13:00
Place: Building 5910, room 116, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N
Title of PhD thesis: Investigating the possible link between maternal obesity, human milk composition, and infant metabolism
Contact information: Julie Astono, e-mail: astono@food.au.dk, tel.: +45 41171545
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Aniko Korosi, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Professor Maher Abou Hachem, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Section for Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology Protein Glycoscience and Biotechnology, DTU Microbes Initiative, Denmark.
Professor Marianne Hammershøj (chair), Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Ulrik Kræmer Sundekilde, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Professor Jette Feveile Young, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Research Scientist Søren Drud-Heydary Nielsen, Arla Food Ingredients, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.

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