Human Milk Feeding in Inherited Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review of Growth, Metabolic Control, and Neurodevelopment Outcomes

Abstract

Human milk (HM) is the optimal source of nutrition for infants. Yet the suitability of HM macronutrient composition, paired with the challenge of regulating HM intake, may deserve some consideration for infants with inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) requiring restrictive and controlled dietary management. Except for classic galactosemia, HM feeding is expected to be feasible, allowing infants to maintain metabolic stability, while growing and developing optimally. However, information about HM feeding in nonphenylketonuria (PKU) literature is scarce. In this systematic review, 52 studies were included, representing 861 infants (86% PKU) receiving HM after IMD diagnosis (mean duration 4–10 months depending on the IMD). For non-PKU IMDs (e.g., other amino acidopathies, urea cycle disorders, organic acidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders), outcomes of HM feeding were available for few infants, except for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency (n = 48). In PKU, HM feeding combined with phenylalanine-free formula, led to adequate metabolic control (25 studies), growth (15 studies), and neurodevelopment (10 studies). For other IMDs, more evidence is required, but the limited data suggest that HM feeding is possible, with attentive monitoring and disease-specific formula supplementation where applicable. In MCAD deficiency, ensuring adequate HM intake is essential, as symptoms were more frequently reported in exclusively breastfed infants. No IMD-specific articles were found on the relationship between HM feeding and many other outcomes of interest (e.g., immune status or comorbidity risk later in life). With the exception of galactosemia, HM feeding is expected to benefit infants with IMD. More data should be published for IMDs other than PKU.