Human milk biomarkers connect mammary gland biology with infant growth
Published in Bioinformatics, Biology, Journals, Noninvasive.
Published October 11, 2026. A study published in Science on October 8 uses the molecular composition of human milk to investigate mammary gland function and its relationship with infant growth.
Researchers led by NYU Grossman School of Medicine analyzed 1,543 milk samples from cohorts in Canada, Pakistan and Burkina Faso, including two randomized nutritional trials. They combined measurements of proteins, metabolites, micronutrients, macronutrients and milk oligosaccharides with infant growth data and computational modeling.
The analysis identified seven candidate biomarkers: four short-chain acylcarnitines, lysine, 6′-sialyllactose and selenium. These markers reflected processes involving milk synthesis, tissue remodeling and immune activity. Higher C5 acylcarnitine levels were associated with lower milk-synthesis signatures.
Limits: The proposed vitamin B5–coenzyme A–C5 pathway remains a hypothesis under investigation. The biomarkers are research candidates, and the study does not establish that vitamin B5 supplementation alone improves infant growth. Collecting milk repeatedly could offer a noninvasive way to study changes in mammary biology.
Sources: Original Science paper; NYU Langone announcement, October 8, 2026.