Effects of osteopontin-enriched formula on lymphocyte subsets in the first 6 months of life: a randomized controlled
Christina E West1, Anne Staudt Kvistgaard2, Janet M Peerson3
1Department of Clincial Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Insights
Osteopontin (OPN) in infant formula, at levels mirroring human milk, boosted T-cell proportions in formula-fed infants. This suggests OPN positively impacts infant immune development in a dose-dependent manner.
Area of Science:
- * Immunology
- * Pediatric Nutrition
Background:
- * Human milk contains osteopontin (OPN), a protein with known immunomodulatory functions.
- * OPN plays a role in immune system development and regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To evaluate the effect of varying osteopontin (OPN) concentrations in infant formula on immune cell composition.
- * To compare formula-fed infants with a breastfed reference group.
Main Methods:
- * Randomized controlled trial comparing standard formula (SF) with OPN-supplemented formulas (F65, F130).
- * Four-color immunoflow cytometry used to analyze peripheral blood immune cells at 1, 4, and 6 months.
- * Comparison with a breastfed (BF) group.
Main Results:
- * Formula with 130 mg OPN/L (F130) showed increased T-cell proportions versus SF and F65.
- * Monocyte proportions were higher in OPN-supplemented groups (F65, F130) compared to BF infants.
- * Effects on T-cells and monocytes appeared dose-dependent.
Conclusions:
- * OPN in infant formula, at human milk concentrations, increased circulating T-cell proportions.
- * OPN supplementation may favorably influence immune ontogeny in infancy.
- * The observed immune effects of OPN are likely dose-dependent.
Abstract:
BackgroundHuman milk is rich in osteopontin (OPN), which has immunomodulatory functions.MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial, standard formula (SF) and the same formula with 65 mg of OPN/L (F65) or 130 mg of OPN/L (F130), representing ~50 and 100% of the OPN concentration in human milk, were compared. We examined frequencies and composition of peripheral blood immune cells by four-color immunoflow cytometry of formula-fed infants at ages 1, 4, and 6 months, and compared them with a breastfed (BF) reference group.ResultsThe F130 group had increased T-cell proportions compared with the SF (P=0.036, average effect size 0.51) and F65 groups (P=0.008, average effect size 0.65). Compared with the BF group, the monocyte proportions were increased in the F65 (P=0.001, average effect size 0.59) and F130 (P=0.006, average effect size 0.50) groups, but were comparable among the formula groups.ConclusionOPN in an infant formula at a concentration close to that of human milk increased the proportion of circulating T cells compared with both SF and formula with added OPN at ~50% of the concentration in human milk. This suggests that OPN may favorably influence immune ontogeny in infancy and that the effects appear to be dose-dependent.
