Visfatin is secreted into the breast milk and is correlated with weight changes of the infant after the birth

Introduction: Visfatin is a recently identified adipokine with numerous metabolic and immunoregulatory properties that has been implicated in the regulation of the white adipose tissue (WAT) and significant changes in visfatin levels were reported during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to investigate dynamics of visfatin levels in maternal serum and human breast milk during a 180-d period after the delivery. Materials and methods: : Breast milk and venous blood samples were obtained from 24 healthy lactating women with uncomplicated, physiological pregnancy and appropriate-for-gestational age neonates and serum-milk sample duos were collected at the time of birth, at the 1-3, 12-14, 28-30, 88-90 and 178-180 postpartum. Results: Our study demonstrates that (1) visfatin is abundantly secreted into breast milk in humans, reaching approx. 100x higher concentrations compared to maternal serum; (2) visfatin concentrations in maternal serum show significant variations after the delivery and (3) visfatin concentration in colostrum could be used for prediction of the subsequent weight development (less/more severe weight loss during first 3 days after the birth) of the infant. Discussion: Our data suggest that visfatin could play an important role in regulation of adiposity of the infatn after the birth. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.