Mom's exercise during breastfeeding to boost baby metabolism
Maternal exercise during lactation to ignite infant metabolism
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 ID | NIH-11323898 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Boston, United States
- Joslin Diabetes Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isganaitis, Elvira Marie — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Isganaitis, Elvira Marie
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 below.