Growth and Neurodevelopment to 18 Months in Infant With Varying sn-2 Palmitate Levels in Formula: An Observational...

Sn-2 palmitate is a unique lipid found in breast milk that enhances the absorption of palmitic acid (PA) and prevents the soaping of PA in the gut. Feeding formulas with high sn-2 palmitate levels influences infant growth and neurodevelopment; however, few studies have evaluated the long-term effects on these outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the association between feeding formula and exposure to different levels of sn-2 palmitate in infancy and growth or neurodevelopment in infants after 6 months.

This study was conducted as a follow-up of 1-month-old infants included in a previous study. Infant formulas commercially available in Japan were classified as either high sn-2 formula (PA sn-2 ratio ≥ 50%) or low sn-2 formula (< 50%). The associations between the feeding volume of high/low sn-2 formula at 1 and 6 months of age and anthropometric z-scores or neurodevelopment (Ages & Stages Questionnaires, third edition; ASQ-3) scores at 9 and 18 months were evaluated.

Multiple regression analysis of anthropometric z-scores showed no significant association with feeding with either the low or high sn-2 formulas. Multiple regression analysis of the ASQ-3 scores showed that the communication score at 18 months was negatively associated with feeding with the low sn-2 formula at 1 month, with no association observed for the high sn-2 formula.

Compared with the formula with low sn-2 palmitate, feeding formulas with high sn-2 palmitate at 1 month had a lower association with reduced neurodevelopment at 18 months.