Micronutrient, Metabolic, and Inflammatory Biomarkers through 24 Months of Age in Infants Receiving Formula with Added Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane through the First Year of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) added in infant formula supports typical growth and safety through 24 mo of age in term infants. OBJECTIVES: To assess micronutrient (zinc, iron, ferritin, transferrin receptor), metabolic [glucose, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], and inflammatory (leptin, adiponectin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein) secondary outcomes through 24 mo of age in infants who received standard cow's milk-based infant formula (SF), similar formula with added bovine MFGM (EF), or human milk (HM) through 1 y. METHODS: Infants whose parents agreed to a blood draw at baseline (<120 d of age) (SF = 80; EF = 80; HM = 83) were included. Subsequent collections (2-4 h fasting) occurred at D180, D365, and D730. Biomarker concentrations were analyzed and group changes tested using generalized estimating equations models. RESULTS: Only serum iron (+22.1 µg/dL) and HDL-C (+2.5 mg/dL) were significantly higher for EF compared with SF at D730. Prevalence of zinc deficiency for EF (-17.4%) and SF (-16.6%) at D180 and depleted iron stores for SF (+21.4%) at D180 and EF (-34.6%) and SF (-28.0%) at D365 were significantly different compared with HM. IGF-1 (ng/mL) for EF and SF was significantly higher at D180 (+8.9) and for EF (+8.8) at D365, and (+14.5) at D730 compared with HM. Insulin (µUI/mL) for EF (+2.5) and SF (+5.8) and HOMA-IR for EF (+0.5) and SF (+0.6) were significantly higher compared with HM at D180. TGs (mg/dL) for SF (+23.9) at D180, for EF (+19.0) and SF (+17.8) at D365, and EF (+17.3) and SF (+14.5) at D730 were significantly higher compared with HM. Zinc, ferritin, glucose, LDL-C and total cholesterol changes were higher in formula groups compared with HM between various time points. CONCLUSIONS: Micronutrient, metabolic, and inflammatory biomarkers were generally similar through 2 y in infants who received infant formula with or without added bovine MFGM. Over the 2 y, differences were observed between infant formulas and HM reference group. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NTC02626143.

Omega-3 polygenic score protects against altered eating behavior in intrauterine growth-restricted children.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in eating behavior are common in infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could provide protection. We hypothesized that those born IUGR with a genetic background associated with increased production of omega-3-PUFA will have more adaptive eating behaviors during childhood. METHODS: IUGR/non-IUGR classified infants from MAVAN and GUSTO cohorts were included at the age of 4 and 5 years, respectively. Their parents reported child's eating behaviors using the child eating behavior questionnaire-CEBQ. Based on the GWAS on serum PUFA (Coltell 2020), three polygenic scores were calculated. RESULTS: Significant interactions between IUGR and polygenic score for omega-3-PUFA on emotional overeating (ß = -0.15, P = 0.049 GUSTO) and between IUGR and polygenic score for omega-6/omega-3-PUFA on desire to drink (ß = 0.35, P = 0.044 MAVAN), pro-intake/anti-intake ratio (ß = 0.10, P = 0.042 MAVAN), and emotional overeating (ß = 0.16, P = 0.043 GUSTO) were found. Only in IUGR, a higher polygenic score for omega-3-PUFA associated with lower emotional overeating, while a higher polygenic score for omega-6/omega-3-PUFA ratio was associated with a higher desire to drink, emotional overeating, and pro-intake/anti-intake. CONCLUSION: Only in IUGR, the genetic background for higher omega-3-PUFA is associated with protection against altered eating behavior, while the genetic score for a higher omega-6/omega-3-PUFA ratio is associated with altered eating behavior. IMPACT: A genetic background related to a higher polygenic score for omega-3 PUFA protected infants born IUGR against eating behavior alterations, while a higher polygenic score for omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio increased the risk of having eating behavior alterations only in infants born IUGR, irrespective of their adiposity in childhood. Genetic individual differences modify the effect of being born IUGR on eating outcomes, increasing the vulnerability/resilience to eating disorders in IUGR group and likely contributing to their risk for developing metabolic diseases later in life.

Added bovine milk fat globule membrane in formula: Growth, body composition, and safety through age 2: An RCT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of an experimental formula (EF) with added whey protein-lipid concentrate (5 g/L; source of bovine milk fat globule membrane [bMFGM]) on growth, body composition, and safety through 24 mo of age in term infants. METHODS: This was a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted in Santiago, Chile. Infants were enrolled before 120 d and randomized to receive standard cow's milk-based formula (SF) or EF through the first year of life. Breastfed infants were the reference (HM). Growth (weight-for-age [WAZ], length-for-age [LAZ], BMI-for-age [BAZ], headcircumference-for-age [HCZ] z-scores); body composition (fat mass [FM] and fat-free mass, percentage body fat [%BF]); and adverse events through day 730 were recorded. Outcome trajectories were analyzed using a single generalized estimating equation testing the interaction between group and visit. RESULTS: We recruited 582 infants (HM = 235; SF = 174; EF = 173); 478 (>80%) completed the study. At baseline, only WAZ was different between the formula groups (0.14 lower in EF versus SF group, P = 0.035). WAZ, LAZ, and BAZ trajectories were higher from baseline to days 365 and 730 in EF or SF compared with HM (all P < 0.05). No differences in changes in body composition were observed between the formula groups. For EF versus HM, %BF was lower at day 180; however, this difference reversed from day 365. Fat-free mass was higher in formula groups compared with HM at all time points. No group difference in adverse event incidence rate was detected. CONCLUSION: During the first 2 y of life, infant formula with added bMFGM supports typical growth and safety compared with a standard formula.