Ruo Xuan Goi

Human infancy is a critical period for growth, adaptation, and the embodiment of environmental influences. Maternal investment through breastfeeding serves as an adaptive strategy supporting infant survival, development, and long-term health. Telomeres—biomarkers of cellular aging—change rapidly during early life, reflecting the cumulative burden of stress and environmental exposures. Despite their importance, research on telomere dynamics during infancy remains limited globally and virtually absent in Southeast Asia, where cultural diversity shapes maternal diet, confinement practices, and infant feeding behaviors. This study investigates how maternal psychosocial stress, dietary intake, feeding practices, breast milk composition, and infant characteristics interact to influence telomere dynamics (length and attrition) at six months of age. A total of 110 mother–infant pairs will be recruited from maternal and child health clinics in Kuala Lumpur, with data collected at 2–3 and 6 months postpartum. Breast milk samples will be analyzed for nutrients and bioactive components, while infant buccal swabs will be assessed for telomere length using qPCR. Maternal stress, diet, sleep, postpartum practices, and infant temperament will be measured using validated tools. Integrating biological and sociocultural data, this study applies a biocultural and life history framework to understand how maternal health and caregiving shape early adaptation and cellular aging.