Mom's exercise during breastfeeding to boost baby metabolism
Official title: Maternal exercise during lactation to ignite infant metabolism
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-11323898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether moms' exercise while breastfeeding changes breast milk in ways that help babies burn more fat and have healthier body composition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 22, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $631,027 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD117197-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are exclusively breastfeeding mothers and their healthy infants who can attend visits in the first three months postpartum, wear an activity tracker, and follow a walking-based activity goal.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not breastfeeding, mothers who cannot increase physical activity, or infants with medical conditions that affect growth or metabolism may not receive direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
We will enroll 100 exclusively breastfeeding mother–infant pairs and randomize mothers to either a walking-based activity goal (>8,000 steps/day) or usual care from 1 to 3 months postpartum. All participants will complete supervised exercise sessions at 1 and 3 months while milk samples are collected before and after exercise and activity is tracked daily with wearable monitors. Laboratory analyses will measure thermogenic lipids and metabolites in milk (for example, 12,13-diHOME) and we will measure infant body composition and metabolic markers over time. The team will compare the immediate effects of a single exercise bout with the effects of an 8-week activity intervention to see how milk changes relate to infant metabolism and fat mass.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to simple, activity-based actions for breastfeeding mothers that reduce a child's future obesity risk by changing milk composition.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier observational work found the signaling lipid 12,13-diHOME in human milk and linked higher levels after maternal exercise with lower infant fat mass, but randomized trials comparing acute and chronic exercise effects on milk and infant outcomes are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isganaitis, Elvira Marie — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Isganaitis, Elvira Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Iodized salt and early brain development in babies of pregnant and breastfeeding women in rural Ethiopia
This grant tests whether giving iodized salt to pregnant and breastfeeding women helps their babies’ brain development.
-
IMPILO: New 6-month RR-TB regimen in pregnant and breastfeeding women
A study in pregnant and postpartum women with rifampicin-resistant TB will track how well a new all-oral 6-month treatment works and how well people stick to it.
-
Moringa in Breastfeeding: A mom-and-baby study
This trial tests whether adding moringa leaf powder to mothers’ diets can increase breast milk volume and improve infant growth among undernourished families in Kenya.
-
Balanced Energy Protein Supplement for mothers and infants in LMICs
A nutrition program tests if a ready-to-use protein supplement given to undernourished pregnant or breastfeeding women in South Asia can improve baby growth in the first 6 months.
-
UPLIFT: Understanding how HIV status shapes parental feeding choices
A patient-centered study explores how people with HIV make feeding decisions for their babies and what supports help them choose and carry out feeding plans.
-
Effects of iodized salt during pregnancy and breastfeeding on infant brain development in rural Ethiopia
Pregnant and breastfeeding people in rural Ethiopia will receive iodized salt to see how it affects their baby’s brain development.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.