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The role of breast milk beta-endorphin and relaxin-2 on infant colic

  • Clinical Research Article
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Abstract

Background

The relationship between infant colic and breast milk beta-endorphin (BE) and relaxin-2 (RLX-2) has not been studied before.

Methods

Thirty colic infants and their mothers constituted the study group, and the same sex, similar age and healthy infants and their mothers formed the control group. Maternal predisposing factors were analysed with questionnaires.

Results

The frequency of headache and myalgia in the mothers was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group. Sleep quality of mothers in the study group was worse than in the control group (p = 0.028). While breast milk RLX-2 level in the study group was not different from the control group, breast milk BE level in the study group was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.039). A positive correlation was found between breast milk BE levels and crying times, and between sleep quality scores and crying times. Headache, myalgia, sleep quality and breast milk BE levels were found to have a significant effect on infant colic.

Conclusions

Breast milk RLX-2 has no role on infant colic. Breast milk BE may act as a biological mediator in transmitting of maternal predisposing factors such as poor sleep quality, headache and myalgia from mother to infant.

Impact

  • The relationship between infant colic and breast milk beta-endorphin (BE) and elaxin-2 (RLX-2) has not been studied before.

  • Maternal sleep quality, headache, and myalgia are predisposing factors associated with infant colic.

  • Breast milk RLX-2 has no effect on infant colic.

  • Breast milk BE may play a role as a biological mediator in transmitting the effects of predisposing factors from mother to infant.

  • Breast milk BE may be a mediator in biological communication between mother and infant.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

Funding

This study was supported by a grant coded TAB-2021-9686 from Atatürk University Scientific Research Project Office.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Hakan Doneray

    Present address: Clinical Research Development and Design Application and Research Center, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Türkiye

  2. These authors contributed equally: Hakan Doneray, Guzide Tavlas.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Türkiye

    Hakan Doneray

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Türkiye

    Guzide Tavlas

  3. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Erzurum Regional Training & Research Hospital, Erzurum, Türkiye

    Ayse Ozden

  4. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Türkiye

    Nurinnisa Ozturk

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  1. Hakan Doneray
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  4. Nurinnisa Ozturk
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Contributions

H.D., G.T., A.O., N.O.: substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. H.D.: drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published.

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Correspondence to Hakan Doneray.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee approved the study, and the infants’ parents gave written informed consent.

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Doneray, H., Tavlas, G., Ozden, A. et al. The role of breast milk beta-endorphin and relaxin-2 on infant colic. Pediatr Res 94, 1416–1421 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-023-02617-y

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