ArticleObstetrics and gynecology2022
Neutralizing Antibodies and Cytokines in Breast Milk After Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA Vaccination.
Article in Obstetrics and gynecology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 55 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Detection of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibodies in Human Breast Milk and Their Neutralizing Capacity after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Pooled it
- Subclinical mastitis during lactation: a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer?Medical hypotheses · 2025Article
- Review
- Impact of Maternal Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on Immunological Components of Breast Milk.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Immune response in breastmilk of Black women to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination against COVID-19.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- Maternal influences on offspring food allergy.Immunological reviews · 2024Review
- High Transferability of Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 to Umbilical Cord Blood in Pregnant Women Vaccinated with BNT162b2 XBB.1.5: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Infectious disease reports · 2024Article
- Review
- COVID-19 booster enhances IgG mediated viral neutralization by human milkFrontiers in nutrition · 2024Article
- Mammary epithelium permeability during established lactation: associations with cytokine levels in human milk.Frontiers in nutrition · 2024Article
- Article
- Milk antibody response after 3iScience · 2023Article
- COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-mediated antibodies in human breast milk and their association with breast milk microbiota composition.NPJ vaccines · 2023Article
- Maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, a systematic review and meta-analysis.NPJ vaccines · 2023Review
- The contributions of parental lactation on offspring development: It's not udder nonsense!Hormones and behavior · 2023Review
- Detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG in human milk and breastfeeding infant stool 6 months after maternal COVID-19 vaccination.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2023Observational
- What are the key pediatric public policy priorities as the COVID-19 pandemic persists?Pediatric research · 2023Article
- The changing health impact of vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic: A modeling study.Cell reports · 2023Article
- Safety and Efficacy of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA Vaccines During Lactation.Obstetrics and gynecology · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo evaluate immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA-based vaccines present in breast milk and transfer of the immune responses to breastfeeding infants.
methodsWe enrolled 30 lactating women who received mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines from January through April 2021 in this cohort study. Women provided serial milk samples, including milk expressed before vaccination, across 2-3 weeks after the first dose, and across 3 weeks after the second dose. Women provided their blood, spotted on cards (dried blood spots), 19 days after the first dose and 21 days after the second dose. Stool samples from the breastfed infants were collected 21 days after mothers' second vaccination. Prepandemic samples of milk, dried blood spots, and infant stool were used as controls. Milk, dried blood spots, and infant stool were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG. Milk samples were tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against the spike and four variants of concern: D614G, Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Gamma (P.1). Levels of 10 cytokines were measured in milk samples.
resultsMilk from COVID-19-immunized women neutralized the spike and four variants of concern, primarily driven by anti-RBD IgG. The immune response in milk also included significant elevation of interferon-γ. The immune response to maternal vaccination was reflected in breastfed infants: anti-RBD IgG and anti-RBD IgA were detected in 33% and 30% of infant stool samples, respectively. Levels of anti-RBD antibodies in infant stool correlated with maternal vaccine side effects. Median antibody levels against RBD were below the positive cutoffs in prepandemic milk and infant stool samples.
conclusionHumoral and cellular immune responses to mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination are present in most women's breast milk. The milk anti-RBD antibodies can neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike and variants of concern. Anti-RBD antibodies are transferred to breastfed infants, with the potential to confer passive immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.