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Metabolic and hormonal serum markers in early childhood: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial during infancy
Jacqueline Muts1,2, Stefanie M P Kouwenhoven3,4, Nadja Antl5,6
1Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Insights
A modified low-protein infant formula did not alter metabolic or hormonal markers in early childhood. This study found no significant differences between formula groups and breastfed infants, suggesting no long-term impact on key biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Metabolic Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- High protein intake in infancy is linked to increased obesity risk.
- Infant formula composition may influence long-term metabolic and hormonal development.
- Understanding the impact of modified formulas is crucial for infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a modified low-protein infant formula on blood metabolic and hormonal markers.
- To compare outcomes between infants fed a low-protein formula, a control formula, and breast milk.
- To assess markers such as IGF-1, leptin, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR up to age 6 years.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving formula-fed infants (<45 days old).
- Two formula groups: modified low-protein (mLP) and control (CTRL), plus a breastfed reference group.
- Blood samples analyzed for IGF-1, IGF-BPs, leptin, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR at 1, 2, and 6 years.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in metabolic or hormonal markers were observed between the low-protein formula group, control group, and breastfed group at any time point.
- At 6 years, some biomarkers (IGF-1, leptin, HOMA-IR) showed a positive correlation with body composition, but this was not consistent across all markers.
- The study included a relatively small number of participants, with decreasing participation rates at follow-up points.
Conclusions:
- Providing a modified, low-protein infant formula during the first 6 months of life did not impact hormonal and metabolic markers in early childhood.
- The findings suggest that formula protein content, within the studied range, may not significantly alter key developmental biomarkers.
- Further research with larger cohorts may be needed to confirm these findings and explore potential subtle effects.
Objectives:
High protein intake during infancy has been linked to accelerated weight gain and increased obesity risk. This study aimed to examine the effects of a low-protein formula during the first 6 months of life on blood metabolic and hormonal markers during early childhood.
Methods:
Formula-fed infants (<45 days) were randomized to receive either a low-protein formula with modified amino acid composition (mLP; n = 90; 1.7 g protein/100 kcal) or a control formula (CTRL; n = 88; 2.1 g protein/100 kcal) until 6 months of age. Breastfed infants served as a reference group (n = 67). Blood samples were collected in cooperating subjects at 1, 2, and 6 years. We measured insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-binding proteins (BPs), leptin, glucose, and insulin, and calculated Homeostatic-Model-Assessment-of-Insulin-Resistance (HOMA-IR). Data were analyzed using linear mixed models and linear regression, adjusting for confounders. In addition, results were correlated to priorly published body composition measurement.
Results:
Venous blood was collected from 87 (36%), 77 (31%), and 63 (26%) participants at ages 1, 2, and 6 years, respectively. No differences were found in metabolic markers between the formula groups or compared to the breastfed group at any time point. Furthermore, at 6 years of age, a positive correlation was found between some biomarkers (IGF-1, leptin, and HOMA-IR) and body composition measurements, but not all biomarkers showed such an association.
Conclusions:
In this relatively small study, providing a modified, low-protein infant formula during the first months of life did not affect hormonal and metabolic markers during early childhood.
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