Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41835709›Full record

ReviewCureus2026

Maternal Thyroid Disorders and Their Effects on the Metabolic Profile of Breast Milk: A Systematic Review.

Anna Kontogeorgou, Nikolaos Taprantzis, Marianna Politou, Theodoros Xanthos, George Kaparos, Theodora Boutsikou, Panagiotis Zoumpoulakis, Nicoletta Iacovidou, Dimosthenis Chrysikos, Theodore Troupis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Anna KontogeorgouFirst Division of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Nikolaos TaprantzisDepartment of Anatomy, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Marianna PolitouHematology Laboratory - Blood Bank, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Theodoros XanthosDepartment of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, GRC.
George KaparosDepartment of Biopathology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Theodora BoutsikouDepartment of Neonatology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Panagiotis ZoumpoulakisDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, Athens, GRC.
Nicoletta IacovidouDepartment of Neonatology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Dimosthenis ChrysikosDepartment of Anatomy, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Theodore TroupisDepartment of Anatomy, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Human breast milk composition is inextricably linked to maternal physiology, yet the impact of thyroid dysfunction on this biological matrix remains undercharacterized. Given that lactation serves as the primary metabolic conduit for the neonate, alterations in the milk metabolic profile could have profound developmental consequences. This study investigates metabolomic and proteomic differentiations in breast milk associated with maternal thyroid abnormalities to evaluate their potential implications for infant growth and neurodevelopment. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify studies investigating the impact of maternal thyroid disorders on the metabolomic and proteomic composition of human breast milk. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was utilized to assess the risk of bias in the selected studies. The study was also registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID: CRD420261296307). Nine studies were included in the review. The most consistent finding was a significant alteration of the milk lipidome, characterized by an increase in saturated fatty acids and a depletion of neurocritical lipids, such as glycerophospholipids and nervonic acid. Hypothyroidism was associated with reduced total protein content and downregulation of membrane proteins, including adipophilin and butyrophilin. Additionally, thyroid dysfunction correlated with decreased levels of sialylated oligosaccharides. Conversely, specific immune modulators, such as the Ig gamma-3 chain, were upregulated. Although the primary complement system components remained unchanged, a significant increase was observed in CD59, an inhibitor of complement activation. Maternal thyroid dysfunction induces profound metabolomic and proteomic alterations in breast milk, fundamentally compromising its nutritional and structural integrity. The specific depletion of neurocritical lipids and immunomodulatory oligosaccharides, along with enzymatic downregulation, suggests a mechanism underlying impaired neurodevelopment, immune susceptibility, and digestive dysfunction in the neonate. These compositional defects may drive adverse "metabolic programming," predisposing offspring to immediate complications and long-term risks, including cognitive deficits and metabolic disorders. Consequently, strict management of maternal thyroid health is essential to preserve the biological quality of breast milk and optimize neonatal outcomes.

Indexed as

human breast milkhuman milk analysespregnant femalesthyroid disorderthyroid profile

Identifiers

PMID41835709
PMCPMC12981278

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.