Integrative perspective on the maternal Gut-Brain-Breast axis: Linking dietary polyphenols, mental health, and human milk composition

Abstract

This narrative review examines the interplay between maternal diet (particularly polyphenol intake), cognition, and human milk composition during the postpartum period. Early motherhood involves substantial neurobiological and psychological adaptations that, together with stress, sleep disturbances, and other mental health challenges, can influence maternal cognition and lactation physiology. Emerging evidence indicates that dietary polyphenols interact with the gut microbiota to produce bioactive metabolites capable of modulating neuroinflammatory pathways, neurotransmission, and endocrine signaling relevant to maternal cognitive function. Maternal polyphenol consumption may also contribute to variations in human milk composition, including antioxidant activity and lipid profile, which can influence both maternal and infant health outcomes. These complex interactions can be conceptualized through a gut-brain-breast axis framework, highlighting how nutritional, psychological, and microbial factors converge to support postpartum well-being. While most current evidence is derived from preclinical studies, these findings emphasize the potential of integrative perinatal strategies that combine diet, mental health support, and microbiota-targeted interventions to optimize maternal and infant outcomes. Future research should focus on controlled human studies to clarify underlying mechanisms and effects, providing evidence for nutritional strategies that strengthen the gut-brain-breast axis in support of maternal mental health.