# Exploring the Endocannabinoid System’s Influence on Mammary Tissue and Breast Milk Inflammation in Maternal Chronic Obesity

## TL;DR

This paper explores how the endocannabinoid system affects mammary tissue and breast milk inflammation in mothers with chronic obesity.

## Contribution

It highlights the role of the endocannabinoid system in obesity-related mammary gland and breast milk changes during lactation.

## Key findings

- Maternal obesity alters mammary gland structure and reduces prolactin secretion.
- Obesity increases pro-inflammatory breast milk composition and endocannabinoid levels.
- Endocannabinoids in breast milk may influence infant food intake.

## Abstract

Approximately 40% of women start pregnancy with overweight or obesity, and around 70% retain weight in the postpartum period (PP). Obesity is related to low-grade systemic inflammation, primarily driven by the secretome of white adipose tissue (WAT), which includes dysfunctional adipocytes and immune cells that infiltrate WAT, releasing pro-inflammatory signals into the circulation. In women with obesity, the mammary gland undergoes structural and endocrine changes, such as reduced prolactin secretion, fewer mammary gland branches, and a higher abundance of adipocytes in mammary fat pad, which have not been studied under this condition. Maternal obesity during lactation also alters the composition of breast milk, promoting pro-inflammatory characteristics. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is hyperactive in obesity, contributing to metabolic inflammation. Its primary receptors, cannabinoids 1 and 2, are expressed in the mammary gland and implicated in inflammation and weight gain. Endocannabinoids (ECs), the main ECS ligands, are typically not released into the bloodstream; however, their increased levels in obesity suggest upregulation in peripheral tissues. ECs are also present in breast milk, where their higher concentrations in women with obesity may influence infant food intake.