Researchers recently discovered that women with larger breasts tend to produce milk with lower lactose concentration compared to women with smaller breasts. This groundbreaking finding suggests that while large breast size is not necessary for adequate milk production, it may influence the composition of the milk. The findings have been published in the American Journal of Human Biology.

Breastfeeding is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits for infants, including its role in promoting long-term health and development. Breast milk is not only a source of essential nutrients but also contains various bioactive components that can influence a child’s growth and development. While it is known that breast milk composition can vary significantly among women, the factors contributing to these variations are not fully understood.

Prior studies have explored the influence of maternal traits such as body fat, diet, and feeding frequency on milk composition, but the relationship between breast size and milk composition had not been thoroughly investigated. In their new study, the researchers aimed to fill that gap by examining whether breast size during established lactation is associated with the macronutrient content of breast milk.

The researchers recruited 162 exclusively breastfeeding women from Wroclaw, Poland, between February 2017 and July 2018. Participants were selected based on several criteria to ensure a homogeneous and healthy study sample. These criteria included being mothers of full-term, single births, not suffering from chronic diseases, and not using hormonal contraception. After exclusions due to incomplete data or unusual dietary intake, the final sample consisted of 137 women.

The study involved collecting detailed data on each mother and infant. This included anthropometric measurements such as breast and under-breast circumference, body mass index, and body fat percentage. Additionally, participants completed a general questionnaire about their socioeconomic status, reproductive history, and breastfeeding patterns.