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Lipidomic analyses, breast- and formula-feeding, and growth in infants.


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Authors

Prentice, Philippa 
Matthews, Lee 
Acerini, Carlo L 
Ong, Ken K 

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lipidomic differences between breast- and formula-fed infants. STUDY DESIGN: We utilized high-resolution mass-spectrometry methods to analyze 3.2 mm dried blood spot samples collected at ages 3 months (n = 241) and 12 months (n = 144) from a representative birth cohort study. Lipidomic profiles were compared between infants exclusively breast-fed, formula-fed, or mixed-fed, and related to 12-month infancy weight. Data analysis included supervised multivariate statistics (partial least squares discriminant analysis), and univariate analysis with correction for multiple testing. RESULTS: Distinct differences in 3-month lipidomic profiles were observed between exclusively breast-fed and formula-fed infants; mixed-fed infants showed intermediate profiles. Principle lipidomic characteristics of breast-fed infants were lower total phosphatidylcholines (PCs), with specifically lower short chain unsaturated PC but higher long chain polyunsaturated PC; higher cholesterol esters; and variable differences in sphingomyelins. At 12 months, lipidomic profiles were markedly different to those at 3 months, and differences between the earlier breast/formula/mixed-feeding groups were no longer evident. However, several specific lipid species, associated with breast-feeding at 3 months, also correlated with differences in 3- to 12-month weight. CONCLUSIONS: State-of-the-art dried blood spot sample lipidomic profiling demonstrated striking differences between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Although these changes diminished with age, breast-fed lipidomic profiles at 3 months were associated with infancy weight and could potentially represent biomarkers of infant nutrition.

Description

Keywords

Body Weight, Breast Feeding, Cohort Studies, Female, Growth, Humans, Infant, Infant Formula, Lipids, Male

Journal Title

J Pediatr

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0022-3476
1097-6833

Volume Title

166

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G1001995)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/2)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (unknown)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M027252/2)
Medical Research Council (G0600717)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M027252/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179472)
PP was supported by a UK MRC Clinical Training Fellowship (G1001995). The Cambridge Baby Growth Study has been supported by the European Union, the World Cancer Research Foundation International, the Medical Research Council (including a centenary award), and the NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre. The lipidomics assays were supported by the Medical Research Council (UD99999906 and Cambridge Lipidomics Biomarker Research Initiative G0800783).