Unveiling milk kinship: profiling micrornas in milk siblings for epigenetic insights

Wan Nor Ruddin, Wan Alif Afiq and Ismail, Hamizah and Kaderi, Mohd Arifin and Mohd Nor, Nurul Yaqin and Daud, Normadiah and Zainuddin, Norafiza (2026) Unveiling milk kinship: profiling micrornas in milk siblings for epigenetic insights. Journal of Human Lactation, 42 (3). pp. 850-864. ISSN 0890-3344 E-ISSN 1552-5732

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Abstract

Background: Milk kinship, in some cultures, posits that infants who receive breast milk from non-biological mothers establish a consanguinity, prohibiting future marriage between the recipient infants and the biological children of the breastfeeding mother. This kinship may be influenced by specific miRNAs in breast milk that modulate gene expression epigenetically, leaving marks within the recipient infants. Research Aim: This study aims to identify lactation-specific miRNAs shared among milk siblings, compare miRNA similarity between a breastfeeding mother’s milk and milk siblings’ plasma, and determine their persistence post-infancy. Methods: RNA was extracted from plasma and breast milk samples, followed by NanoString miRNA analysis to profile individual miRNAs. Differential Gene Expression (DGE) analysis using the R studio NOISeq package identified significantly expressed miRNAs across all samples. Results: Detailed comparisons revealed that several similarly detected miRNAs in milk siblings were present in their corresponding breastfeeding mother’s milk. DGE analysis identified five miRNAs: hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p, hsamiR-873-3p, hsa-miR-23a-3p, and hsa-miR-378e, with hsa-miR-23a-3p exhibiting the most consistent expression pattern throughout the study. Conclusion: This study successfully identifies potential lactation-specific miRNAs that may be shared between milk siblings, providing valuable insights and laying a foundation for future identification of milk kinship biomarkers. However, despite promising findings, current evidence remains insufficient to establish a definitive link between these miRNAs and milk kinship. Further research is required to confirm these findings.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	breastfeeding, breast milk, epigenetics, microRNAs, milk kinship, NanoString
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Biomedical Science (Effective:1st July 2011) Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Obstetric & Gynecology
Depositing User:	Dr. Norafiza Zainuddin
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2026 09:42
Last Update:	23 Oct 2026 09:42
Queue Number:	2026-10-Q5797
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/128769
Indexed In:	SCOPUS, MEDLINE, Google Scholar

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