Adipocytokine profiles in maternal obesity: the impact of lipoinflammation on serum, breastmilk, and infant metabolic development

Adipocytokines are proteins with systemic metabolic effects, and additional adipocytokines have been identified. Adipocytokines are present in the serum, and obesity-mediated inflammation can alter their expression. Breast milk also contains adipocytokines that may influence infant metabolism and growth. Nonetheless, the relationship between circulating and milk adipocytokines during maternal inflammation and their effects on infant development remain unclear. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of studies published between 2000 and 2024 in PubMed to analyze the associations between obesity-mediated inflammation and adipocytokines in maternal serum and breast milk and to explore their potential effects on infant growth and metabolic health. We focused on updated evidence for the legacy adipocytokines leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, and IL-6 and the emerging adipocytokines chemerin, neuregulin-4, and betatrophin. The results indicated that although obesity-mediated inflammation affected circulating adipocytokines, their levels were not consistently reflected in breast milk. Leptin, chemerin, and betatrophin were more influenced by lipoinflammation than adiponectin, IL-6, and TNF-α. Neuregulin-4 was present in milk, and its serum levels decreased during gestational diabetes. Some adipocytokines were correlated with infant growth; however, the evidence remains inconclusive. Importantly, no adverse metabolic or growth outcomes were linked to changes in milk adipocytokine profiles. These findings support the promotion of breastfeeding as part of infant health strategies, even in the context of maternal lipoinflammation.