Infant cholesterol and glycated haemoglobin concentrations vary widely—Associations with breastfeeding, infant diet and maternal biomarkers

Abstract

Aim Elevated total cholesterol (TC) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) are risk factors for cardiovascular disease; however, little is known about their determinants in infants. We aimed to describe TC and HbA1c concentrations in infants aged 8‐14 months and explore the relation between infant TC, HbA1c, breastfeeding, infant diet, and maternal TC and HbA1c. Methods In this cross‐sectional pilot study, mothers of infants aged 6 and 12 months were invited to complete a food frequency questionnaire and to take home‐based dried blood spot samples from themselves and their infants. Results Among the 143 included infants, the mean (SD, range) concentration was 4.1 (0.8, 2.3‐6.6) mmol/L for TC and 4.9 (0.4, 3.7‐6.0)% for HbA1c. There was no significant difference between age groups and sexes. There was a positive relation between TC concentrations of all infants and mothers (B = 0.30 unadjusted, B = 0.32 adjusted, P < .001 for both) and a negative relation between infant TC and intake of unsaturated fatty acids in the oldest age group (B = −0.09, P = .03 unadjusted, B = −0.08, P = .06 adjusted). Infant HbA1c was not significantly related to diet or maternal HbA1c. Conclusion TC and HbA1c concentrations varied widely among infants aged 8‐14 months. Infant TC was associated with macronutrient intake and maternal TC.

Cholesterol at ages 6, 12 and 24 months: Tracking and associations with diet and maternal cholesterol in the Infant Cholesterol Study

“…Both the circulating concentration of total cholesterol (TC) [4] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [1] are well-known risk factors for atherosclerosis. We have previously shown that TC is 1.4 mmol/l in newborns [5] and three times as high in infants around one year of age [6]. Furthermore evidence for tracking of TC from childhood to adulthood has been observed in multiple studies [7,8].…”

“…TC (primary endpoint) was measured at an accredited medical laboratory (Vitas AS, Oslo, Norway). We have previously found a strong correlation between TC from venous blood samples analyzed by the DBS method and routine laboratory methods at accredited medical laboratories (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) [6]. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association has defined TC ≥ 5.1 mmol/l as abnormal among children [19].…”

Corrigendum

“…The regression coefficients in the text and in the supplemental tables are correct. Below are revised figures with the correct regression coefficients 1 …”

Highlights in this issue

“…They found that 90% had been breastfed, but the adjusted analyses of the BMI scores were not significantly related to breastfeeding. Readers may also be interested in the paper by Øyri et al, which found that infant total cholesterol (TC) and glycated haemoglobin concentrations varied widely and that infant TC was associated with macronutrient intake and maternal TC.…”