Polyphenols are a broad class of plant bioactive molecules found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Existing and emerging evidence links healthy dietary patterns to maternal and child health benefits, and many healthy dietary patterns are high in polyphenol-containing foods. There is increasing interest in dietary bioactives such as polyphenols in breastmilk, their bioactivity and metabolism, as well as how these molecules may benefit infants ingesting them.
ACNC Investigators critically evaluated evidence from 20 relevant studies published over the last 10 years that reported polyphenol concentrations in breastmilk. Although polyphenols can be transferred to infant circulation via breastmilk, evidence is still limited in the role of breastmilk polyphenols in infant development. Maternal dietary intake influences polyphenol composition and concentrations in breastmilk, and some reports suggest that maternal demographics and lactation stages may also play a role.
There is not yet enough evidence directly linking breastmilk polyphenol composition or infant intakes to developmental outcomes in breastfed infants. Investigators suggest that future studies include a broader assessment of polyphenols and their metabolites in breastmilk as well as their concentrations relative to clinically relevant metabolic processes. More information is needed to understand the potential influences of maternal dietary polyphenol intake as well as other maternal characteristics that may influence polyphenol breastmilk composition, such as health status, gut microbiome composition, and genetics, on infant development and health.
Check out the review here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41021448/