Infant macronutrient composition is associated with differences in cardiovascular structures and function in
Edith H van den Hooven1, Layla L de Jonge, Jessica C Kiefte-de Jong
1Departments of Epidemiology.
Insights
Infant diets rich in fat were linked to stiffer arteries, while carbohydrates were associated with lower stiffness. Early nutrition impacts childhood cardiovascular development and may influence future heart disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Early-life nutrition is crucial for cardiovascular development.
- Limited understanding exists regarding infant dietary composition and childhood cardiovascular risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between infant macronutrient intake and cardiovascular structure/function at age 6.
- To identify potential early dietary influences on cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 2882 children.
- Macronutrient intake assessed at 14 months via food-frequency questionnaires.
- Cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, cardiac structures) measured at age 6.
Main Results:
- Higher total fat intake correlated with increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV).
- Higher carbohydrate intake associated with lower PWV.
- Fat intake linked to smaller left atrial diameter; carbohydrate intake linked to larger left atrial diameter.
- Higher mono- and disaccharide intake associated with increased left ventricular mass.
Conclusions:
- Infant macronutrient composition may influence childhood cardiovascular development.
- Dietary patterns in infancy could have long-term implications for cardiovascular risk.
- Further research is needed to confirm long-term cardiovascular disease risk implications.
Abstract:
Early-life nutrition may influence cardiovascular development. Not much is known about the associations between dietary composition and cardiovascular risk factors in childhood. We examined the associations of infant macronutrient intake with cardiovascular structures and function in 2882 children participating in a prospective, population-based cohort study. Information on macronutrient intake at the age of 14 mo was obtained from food-frequency questionnaires completed by a parent. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), fractional shortening, and left cardiac structures (left atrial diameter, aortic root diameter, and left ventricular mass) were measured at the age of 6 y. Linear regression analyses were performed by using energy-adjusted macronutrient intakes, adjusted for maternal, child, and other dietary factors. Higher total fat intake was associated with higher carotid-femoral PWV (P-trend = 0.03), whereas higher intakes of total carbohydrate and mono- and disaccharides were associated with lower carotid-femoral PWV. No consistent associations were observed for macronutrient intake with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fractional shortening, and aortic root diameter. Higher intakes of total, saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat were associated with lower left atrial diameter (all P-trend ≤ 0.01), and higher total carbohydrate and mono- and disaccharide intakes were associated with higher left atrial diameter (P-trend < 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Furthermore, the third tertile of mono- and disaccharide intake was associated with a higher left ventricular mass (difference: 1.01 g; 95% CI: 0.18, 1.85 g; P = 0.02). Dietary macronutrient composition in infancy may lead to developmental differences in cardiovascular structures and function in childhood. Further studies are needed to investigate whether these differences have consequences for the risk of future cardiovascular disease.
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