UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Women with low zinc levels may have trouble breastfeeding, which can be predicted by a gene mutation, researchers found in a recent study at Penn State University.
Mutations to the ZnT2 protein lower zinc levels in breast milk, as well, which leads to severe deficiency in exclusively breastfed infants, researchers said. In addition, zinc is necessary for the growth and function of mammary glands and secretion pathways, and low zinc could make breastfeeding more difficult. Identifying women with low zinc levels would help more quickly recognize mothers who will have trouble breastfeeding.
The study found more than one-third of women had the mutation. Identifying it can head off future health problems for mothers and children.
"We had no idea that genetic variation in ZnT2 would be so common," said Dr. Shannon Kelleher, an associate professor of cellular and molecular physiology and pharmacology at Penn State, in a press release.
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In a study with 54 breastfeeding women, researchers found 36 percent had at least one mutation in the protein ZnT2, leading to abnormal levels of zinc in breast milk. The women were split into four groups based on breast milk zinc levels, with 79 percent of women with the lowest zinc levels having a mutation, and 29 percent of women with the highest zinc levels having mutations.
"Importantly, among the subjects with 'normal' milk (zinc levels), no variants in ZnT2 were detected," the researchers wrote, also noting abnormal zinc levels did not automatically imply a problem with ZnT2, which they said will be among future areas of research.
The study is published in the Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia.
