Lower protein content in infant formula reduces BMI and obesity risk at school age: follow-up of a randomized trial

Abstract

Infant formula with a lower protein content reduces BMI and obesity risk at school age. Avoidance of infant foods that provide excessive protein intakes could contribute to a reduction in childhood obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00338689.

The role of infant nutrition in the global epidemic of non-communicable disease

“…These effects have been seen in both high-and lowincome countries (e.g. Chile 19 ), thereby supporting the concept that programming of CVD risk by faster early growth is a fundamental biological finding seen across populations (18,19) . Central to the growth acceleration hypothesis is that fact that breast-fed infants grow more slowly than those fed formula, particularly in the first few weeks after birth and again between ages 3 and 12 months.…”

“…The assigned diets were given as a standard infant formula (after the parents had decided to add formula) to age 6 months (1·25 g/100 ml in the lower protein formula v. 2·05 g/100 ml in the higher protein formula) followed by a follow-on formula to age 12 months (1·6 g/100 ml in the lower protein formula v. 3·2 g/100 ml in the higher protein formula). Consistent with an effect of protein intake on infant growth and the later risk of obesity, babies given the higher protein formula had a faster rate of weight gain in the first year, higher BMI at age 2 years, and 2·4× greater risk of obesity at age 6 years than those in the lower protein group (18) . However, although strongly supporting the growth acceleration concept, the protein content of formulas used in this trial was much higher than those commonly used today, thereby limiting the practical relevance of this study.…”

“…In the largest study, the European Childhood Obesity Trial, formula-fed babies were randomly assigned to formulas with different protein concentrations and followed to age 6 years (18) . The assigned diets were given as a standard infant formula (after the parents had decided to add formula) to age 6 months (1·25 g/100 ml in the lower protein formula v. 2·05 g/100 ml in the higher protein formula) followed by a follow-on formula to age 12 months (1·6 g/100 ml in the lower protein formula v. 3·2 g/100 ml in the higher protein formula).…”

DOHaD

“…La teneur en protéines des préparations infantiles, qui a été notablement réduite au cours des dernières années, est ainsi un facteur d'hétérogénéité. Un essai randomisé comparant l'effet sur le risque de surpoids à 6 ans, de deux préparations infantiles différant par leur teneur en protéines, a montré un effet protecteur de la formule contenant le moins de protéines [33]. L'âge du début de la diversification alimentaire a aussi été étudié dans ce contexte : une méta-analyse publiée en 2011 concluait à l'absence de lien évident avec le risque d'obésité [34].…”

Current Approaches to Preventing Childhood Obesity

“…(2014), сни-жение уровня белка в заменителях грудного молока до 12 г/л cxbnftncz достоверным фактором снижения риска считается ожирения в возрасте 6 лет. Высокие прибавки массы в первые 2 года жизни значимо уве-личивают риск ожирения у взрослых [26][27][28].…”