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Deferred effects of preweaning diet on atherosclerosis in adolescent baboons
D S Lewis1, G E Mott, C A McMahan
1Department of Physiology and Medicine, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX 78284.
Insights
Infant feeding impacts long-term cardiovascular health. Breast-feeding in infancy was linked to higher atherosclerosis in young adult baboons, primarily due to altered serum lipoprotein profiles.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nutritional Science
- Primate Research
Background:
- Infant feeding practices, including breast and formula feeding, can influence early development and long-term health outcomes.
- Serum lipoproteins and atherosclerosis are key indicators of cardiovascular health.
- Baboons serve as a relevant model for studying human infant nutrition and its effects on cardiovascular disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of infant breast versus formula feeding on serum lipoprotein profiles and atherosclerosis development in young adult baboons.
- To determine if early feeding differences correlate with later cardiovascular disease markers.
Main Methods:
- Baboons were assigned to either breast-feeding or formula-feeding groups until 16 weeks of age.
- Post-weaning, all baboons received a diet high in cholesterol and lard until 5 years of age.
- Serum lipoproteins (HDL-C, triglycerides, VLDL+LDL-C) and the extent of atherosclerosis in major arteries were assessed at various time points.
Main Results:
- Breast-fed baboons exhibited higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lower triglycerides in infancy compared to formula-fed baboons.
- The ratio of very low-density plus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL + LDL-C) to HDL-C was initially lower in breast-fed baboons but became consistently higher from 92 to 246 weeks of age.
- At 5 years, breast-fed baboons showed a greater percentage of intimal surface area involvement with atherosclerosis across multiple major arteries.
Conclusions:
- Early life feeding choices, specifically breast versus formula feeding, have lasting effects on serum lipoprotein metabolism.
- Higher VLDL + LDL-C/HDL-C ratios in later life, observed in previously breast-fed baboons, were associated with increased atherosclerosis prevalence.
- These findings suggest a potential link between infant feeding type and long-term cardiovascular disease risk, mediated by lipoprotein profiles.
Abstract:
We examined the effects of breast and formula feeding during infancy on the serum lipoproteins and on atherosclerosis in young adult baboons. Baboons were breast-fed (n = 13) or formula-fed (n = 32) until weaning at 16 weeks of age and thereafter they were fed a diet containing 1.7 mg cholesterol/kcal and 40% of calories as lard until 5 years of age. At 12 weeks of age, breast-fed baboons had higher serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (HDL-C, 68 vs. 51 mg/dl), lower serum triglyceride concentration (37 vs. 68 mg/dl), and lower very low density plus low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL + LDL-C) to HDL-C ratio (0.65 vs. 0.98) than formula-fed infants. From weaning to 92 weeks of age, breast-fed baboons had a lower serum triglyceride concentration (23 vs. 38 mg/dl) than formula-fed baboons. After weaning, the VLDL + LDL-C/HDL-C ratio increased from 0.65 to 1.0 in breast-fed baboons, but decreased from 0.98 to 0.72 in formula-fed baboons. From 92 to 246 weeks of age, the VLDL + LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was consistently higher in breast-fed baboons compared to formula-fed baboons. At 5 years of age, baboons breast-fed as infants had a greater percentage of intimal surface area involved with atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta, the iliac-femoral artery, the aortic arch, the brachial artery, and the carotid artery, than did those formula-fed as infants. The greater prevalence of lesions in breast-fed baboons was explained mainly by the higher VLDL + LDL-C/HDL-C ratio.