A high-protein neonatal formula induces a temporary reduction of adiposity and changes later adipocyte physiology

Abstract

Sarr O, Gondret F, Jamin A, Le Huërou-Luron I, Louveau I. A high-protein neonatal formula induces a temporary reduction of adiposity and changes later adipocyte physiology. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300: R387-R397, 2011. First published December 1, 2010; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00459.2010.-The high-protein content of formula offered to low-birth weight babies is suspected to increase the risk of obesity later in life. This study assesses the immediate and subsequent effects of a protein intake in excess during suckling on hormonal and metabolic status and adipose tissue features in a porcine model of intrauterine growth restriction. Piglets were fed milk replacers formulated to provide an adequate (AP) or a high (HP) protein supply from day 2 to day 28. A subset of piglets was killed at day 28. After weaning, the remaining piglets had free access to the same solid high-fat diet until day 160. From day 2 to day 28, HP piglets had a greater daily weight gain (P Ͻ 0.05). Relative weight of perirenal adipose tissue (PAT), adipocyte mean diameters, activities of lipogenic enzymes in PAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), and leptinemia were lower (P Ͻ 0.05) in HP piglets than in AP piglets. Genes related to glucose utilization and lipid anabolism in PAT and SCAT were (P Ͻ 0.05) or tended (P Ͻ 0.1) to be downregulated in HP piglets. At day 160, adipocytes were enlarged, whereas lipogenic rates in adipocytes were reduced (P Ͻ 0.05) in SCAT of HP compared with AP pigs. Percent body fat, mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism, and plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites were similar in HP and AP pigs. In conclusion, a HP neonatal formula induced a temporary reduction of adiposity and changed adipocyte physiology at peripubertal age.

Neonatal high protein intake enhances neonatal growth without significant adverse renal effects in spontaneous IUGR piglets

“…This growth effect was likely due to enhanced tissue protein accretion as illustrated by a higher semi‐tendinus muscle mass, lower peri‐renal adipose tissue (PRAT) deposition, and higher carcass protein content in HP piglets than in NP offspring as previously described (Sarr et al 2011). IUGR piglets vigorously responded to HP intake (Davis et al.…”

“…In our previous work, HP feeding in IUGR rat offspring failed to improve net protein gain but induced kidney overweight and renal injury as early as the neonatal period (King and Levey 1993; Sarr et al. 2011). Even though caution is required when comparing both IUGR model in which metabolic responses to HP intake may be differentially altered after maternal protein diet restriction, all of these findings suggest that the body capacity to metabolize dietary proteins may mediate the renal effects of HP intake (Sarr et al.…”

“…Cross‐bred [Piétrain x (Large White x Landrace)] full‐term IUGR piglets were obtained from the experimental herd of INRA (Saint‐Gilles, France) and followed the experimental protocol as previously described (Sarr et al 2011). IUGR was defined by a birth weight below the 10th percentile which was calculated from the overall herd birth weight.…”

“…2011). The HP formula contained 7.7 g/100 mL of proteins, 7.9 g/100 mL of lipids, and 4.6 g/100 mL of carbohydrates with total energy of 120 Kcal/100 mL versus 5.1 g/100 mL, 8.2 g/100 mL, and 4.9 g/100 mL with 113 Kcal/100 mL in NP formula, respectively.…”

Invited review: Pre- and postnatal adipose tissue development in farm animals: from stem cells to adipocyte physiology

“…To answer this question, different experiments have examined the relationships between nutritionally induced variations in fetal adipose tissue development and later postnatal adiposity and adipocyte features. Dietary protein intake of gilts during gestation below (50%) or above (250%) recommendations reduced body fat content in offspring at birth (Rehfeldt et al, 2012a); maternal low-protein diet was also associated with greater abundance of proteins involved in glucose and lipid metabolisms in adipose tissue of 1-day-old piglets (Sarr et al, 2011), suggesting a greater capacity of these piglets to develop fat later in life. Carcasses of pigs born from low-protein fed gilts and then cross-fostered to sows fed a standard diet contained less lean but more fat than control pigs at 6 months of age, while excess dietary protein during gestation seems to have little effect on the fetal programming of postnatal adipose tissue phenotype of the progeny (Rehfeldt et al, 2012b).…”