Biomaker Analytics

Human milk presents unique challenges for micronutrient analysis. Many commonly used analytical methods were originally developed for simpler biological samples such as plasma or urine, which lack the high fat and sugar content found in human milk. Because these macronutrients make up more than 10% of human milk, they significantly influence sample behavior and require specialized preparation techniques. 

Although human milk is central to maternal and infant nutrition, it has historically been understudied. Micronutrient analysis has traditionally relied on microbiological assays, with more recent approaches using chromatographic techniques coupled to UV, fluorescence, or mass spectrometry detection. Other methods, such as radioisotope assays, animal studies, and voltammetry, have also been used but are generally less efficient and more resource-intensive.

Many of these approaches were not fully validated for the complex composition of human milk, often requiring large sample volumes, involving complex preparation, and focusing on single nutrients. As a result, findings have been difficult to compare and sometimes unreliable, limiting their usefulness for establishing robust nutritional benchmarks and recommendations. These challenges highlight the importance of developing and validating accurate, reliable methods for human milk analysis.

Our work has has pioneered the next generation of high-throughput techniques for precise micronutrient analysis and validated targeted metabolomics assays in human milk, encompassing method conception, design, optimization, validation, and deployment, enabling more reliable nutritional assessment and improved intake recommendations.

While our primary analytical focus has been human milk micronutrients and targeted metabolomics, we have also contributed extensively to nutritional biomarker assessment. Our portfolio includes analyses of vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, and vitamins A and E, as well as inflammation markers. More recently, we have expanded our blood biomarker capabilities to include B-vitamins, choline, and related metabolites, alongside targeted metabolomics analyses using the Biocrates platform.

Human milk provides critical insight into infant nutrient exposure, but a more complete understanding of maternal and infant nutrition requires assessment beyond milk alone. By integrating biomarkers from maternal and infant blood with milk composition data, we can better characterize nutrient status, metabolism, and functional outcomes. This combined approach allows us to distinguish between dietary intake, physiological status, and nutrient transfer to the infant, offering a more comprehensive view of nutritional adequacy and strengthening our ability to evaluate interventions and understand how maternal nutrition influences infant health and development.