Postnatal High Protein Intake Can Contribute to Accelerated Weight Gain of Infants and Increased Obesity Risk

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Maternal obesity is a global concern, affecting 38% of women, and is linked to unfavorable epigenetic programming in offspring.
• Infants of overweight mothers experience accelerated weight gain, increasing risks for childhood and adult obesity and noncommunicable diseases.
• Traditional high-protein formulas are associated with faster infant weight gain compared to breastfed infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a new whey-based, low-protein infant formula on infant growth and metabolic biomarkers.
• To compare the growth patterns of infants fed low-protein formula versus high-protein formula against World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards.
• To assess the potential of low-protein formulas as a preventive measure against childhood obesity.

Main Methods:

• Two randomized clinical trials were conducted involving infants aged 3-12 months fed experimental low-protein (1.61-1.65 g/100 kcal) or traditional high-protein formulas.
• One trial included the general US population, while the second trial in Chile focused on infants of mothers with BMI >25.
• Growth parameters, weight percentiles, and biomarkers of protein metabolism (IGF-1, C-peptide) were analyzed and compared to WHO standards and breastfed infants.

Main Results:

• Infants fed the low-protein formula exhibited lower weight gain between 4-12 months (US trial: p=0.031; Chile trial: p=0.022) and up to 24 months (Chile trial: p=0.031) compared to the high-protein group.
• Weight gain in the low-protein group was consistent with WHO growth standards and similar to breastfed infants in the Chilean trial.
• Longitudinal analysis showed a lower incidence of infants above the 85th weight percentile in the low-protein group (p=0.015). Biomarkers of protein metabolism were closer to those of breastfed infants.

Conclusions:

• A whey-based, low-protein formula (1.8 g/100 kcal) supports growth aligned with WHO standards in infants aged 0-4 months.
• Experimental low-protein formulas (1.61-1.65 g/100 kcal) demonstrate reduced weight gain and lower incidence of high weight percentiles in infants aged 3-12 months, compared to high-protein formulas.
• Promoting breastfeeding and utilizing low-protein formulas for nonbreastfed infants are recommended preventive strategies against childhood obesity, offering potential health economic benefits.