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Plasma lipids and apolipoproteins in breastfed and formula-fed Swedish infants
P M Akeson1, I E Axelsson, N C Räihä
1Department of Pediatrics, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Plasma lipid patterns in infants significantly change based on diet. Switching from breast milk to formula before six months lowered cholesterol and apolipoproteins, with levels remaining lower in formula-fed infants at 12 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Lipid Metabolism
- Infant Health
Background:
- Infant feeding practices significantly influence early-life health.
- Understanding plasma lipid profiles is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk factors from infancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare plasma lipid patterns in breastfed versus formula-fed infants.
- To investigate the effects of diet transition (breast milk to formula, introduction of solids) on infant lipid profiles.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled study design involving healthy infants from 3 to 12 months.
- Comparison of plasma lipid concentrations (Total Cholesterol, LDL-C, Apo B, Apo A1) between exclusively breastfed, formula-fed, and mixed-fed groups.
- Dietary assessment including breast milk, infant formula, and weaning foods.
Main Results:
- Exchange of breast milk for formula before 6 months led to significant decreases in total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, apolipoprotein B (apo B), and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1).
- Formula-fed infants exhibited lower plasma TC, LDL-C, and apo B compared to breastfed infants at 6 months.
- Plasma lipids increased with decreased formula intake and increased consumption of weaning foods, though TC and/or LDL-C remained lower in formula-fed infants at 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Infant plasma lipid profiles are highly sensitive to dietary nutrient intake.
- Dietary interventions, such as formula feeding and the introduction of weaning foods, have a measurable impact on infant lipid metabolism.
- Long-term implications of these early-life lipid changes warrant further investigation.
Abstract:
This study was carried out to compare plasma lipid pattern in breastfed and formula-fed infants and the effects of exchanging breast milk for formula and of introducing weaning foods. Healthy infants, exclusively breastfed at least until 3 mo, were at this age randomly assigned to infant formulas with similar fat composition. Formula was gradually introduced when breastfeeding was discontinued. One group continued to breastfeed beyond 6 mo of age. All infants received the same weaning foods and were studied between 3 and 12 mo of age. Decreased plasma concentrations of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC, LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (apo B) and A1 (p < 0.001), and of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05) were found when breast milk was exchanged for formula before 6 mo. At this age plasma TC, LDL-C and apo B were lower in formula-fed than in breastfed infants (p < 0.001). These plasma lipids then increased (p < 0.01) when the intake of formula decreased and that of weaning foods increased. However, plasma TC and/or LDL-C remained lower at 12 mo in formula-fed than in breastfed infants (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that the plasma lipid profile of infants is highly responsive to the dietary nutrient intake, as indicated by the decrease in plasma lipids and apolipoproteins when breast milk was exchanged for formula and by the increase in these concentrations when the intake of weaning foods gradually increased.