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Protein intake in infancy and carotid intima media thickness at 5 years--a secondary analysis from a randomized trial
Dariusz Gruszfeld1, Martina Weber, Monika Nowakowska-Rysz
1Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Early infant protein intake did not affect childhood cardiovascular health (carotid intima-media thickness). However, the apolipoprotein profile in healthy 5-year-olds was linked to cIMT, indicating its importance for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Cardiovascular Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood nutrition significantly impacts long-term cardiovascular function.
- The European Childhood Obesity Project investigated early nutrition's effect on later health.
- Focus on adiposity and related disorders stemming from early dietary habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of infant protein intake on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at age 5.
- To assess the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and cIMT in young children.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter randomized clinical trial involving formula-fed infants across five European countries.
- Infants were assigned to higher (HP) or lower (LP) protein intake groups; breastfed infants formed an observational group.
- Measurements included plasma insulin, glucose, lipids, IGF-1, apolipoproteins, anthropometrics, blood pressure, and physical activity.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in cIMT was observed between the HP and LP groups.
- Insulin, HOMA-IR, and IGF-1 showed positive associations with cIMT.
- ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was positively associated, while ApoA1 was inversely associated with cIMT after confounder adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Infant protein intake levels (high vs. low) do not influence cIMT at 5 years of age.
- The apolipoprotein profile is significantly associated with cIMT in healthy 5-year-old children.
- Apolipoproteins play a role in early cardiovascular development and risk assessment.
Background:
Nutrition in childhood has an influence on the cardiovascular function later on in life. European Childhood Obesity Project is a multicenter, randomized clinical intervention trial examining the effect of early protein intake on later health outcomes, particularly adiposity and related disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of nutritional intervention--different protein intake in infancy on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at 5 years. The association of cardiovascular risk factors with cIMT was also assessed.
Methods:
Healthy term formula-fed infants in five European countries were enrolled either to the higher (HP) or to the lower (LP) protein group. Observational group consisted of breastfed infants. Plasma insulin, glucose, lipid profile, IGF-1, apolipoprotein A1 and B were measured as well as anthropometric parameters of parents and a child, blood pressure and physical activity.
Results:
No difference in cIMT between HP and LP group was observed. Insulin, HOMA-IR index and total IGF-1 were positively associated with cIMT but after adjustment for confounders only an inverse association between ApoA1 and positive between ApoB/ApoA1 and cIMT were significant.
Conclusion:
High versus low protein intake in infancy does not influence cIMT at 5 years. cIMT in healthy children at 5 years is associated with their apolipoprotein profile.
