Achievements, Challenges, and Future Direction in Early Life Nutrition.

Malnutrition is present in most countries of the world. This ranges from general undernutrition due to insufficient food, or poor-quality diets low in some essential nutrients, to overnutrition and obesity with energy-rich but nutrient-poor diets. The fundamental aim of dietary recommendations is to prevent deficiency diseases, and the assumptions which underpin these recommendations need to be understood when considering what advice to give to the general public or individual patients.

Policy Actions Required to Improve Nutrition for Brain Health.

Brain health is a pressing global concern. Poor diet quality is a recognized major environmental risk factor for brain disorders and one of the few that is modifiable. There is substantial evidence that nutrition impacts brain development and brain health across the life course.

Shortcomings, limitations and gaps in physiological roles of extracellular vesicles in obesity.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in mediating communication between cells across species and kingdoms. The intercellular communication facilitated by EVs through autocrine and paracrine signalling mechanisms is essential for cell survival, maintaining normal metabolic functions and ensuring overall bodily homeostasis and health. Extracellular vesicles are present in various bodily fluids, such as pleural effusions, plasma, breast milk, amniotic fluid, semen and saliva.

Characterization of milk oligosaccharide and sialic acid content and their influence on brain sialic acid in a lean mouse model for gestational diabetes.

Oligosaccharides and sialic acids (Sia) are bioactive components in milk that contribute to newborn development and health. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) can have adverse effects on both mother and infant. HIP is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation.

Infant Milk Formula with Large, Milk Phospholipid-coated Lipid Droplets Enriched in Dairy Lipids Affects Body Mass Index Trajectories and Blood Pressure at School Age: Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Human milk comprises large fat globules enveloped by a native phospholipid membrane, whereas infant formulas contain small, protein-coated lipid droplets. Previous experimental studies indicated that mimicking the architecture of human milk lipid droplets in infant milk formula (IMF) alters lipid metabolism with lasting beneficial impact on later metabolic health.

Objectives: To evaluate in a follow-up (FU) study of a randomized, controlled trial whether a Concept IMF with large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets enriched with dairy lipids beneficially impacts long-term body mass index (BMI in kg/m) trajectories and blood pressure at school age.

Influence of perinatal distress on adverse birth outcomes: A prospective study in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia.

Background: In low-income countries, where socioeconomic adversities and perinatal distress are common, adverse birth outcomes are significant public health problems. In these settings, perinatal distress, i.e.

Hyperglycaemia, pregnancy outcomes and maternal metabolic disease risk during pregnancy and lactation in a lean gestational diabetes mouse model.

Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy (HIP) is a pregnancy complication characterized by mild to moderate hyperglycaemia that negatively impacts short- and long-term health of mother and child. However, relationships between severity and timing of pregnancy hyperglycaemia and postpartum outcomes have not been systemically investigated. We investigated the impact of hyperglycaemia developing during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM) or already present pre-mating (pre-gestational diabetes mellitus, PDM) on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes.

Platelets and endothelial dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus.

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has increased in recent years, along with the higher prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive age. GDM is a pathology associated with vascular dysfunction in the fetoplacental unit. GDM-associated endothelial dysfunction alters the transfer of nutrients to the foetus affecting newborns and pregnant women.

Early pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain: A mediating or moderating factor for short stature and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus?

This study examined the association between height and the risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), and whether this association was mediated or moderated by early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) that are known independent risk factors for GDM. Data of a retrospective cohort of pregnant women (N = 1,945) were extracted from antenatal clinic cards. The cut-off values of height in relation to risk of GDM were identified using receiver operating characteristic analysis and four categories of height were derived: < 150 cm, 150-155 cm, 156-160 cm, and > 160cm.

Complementary Feeding Practices among Young Children in China, India, and Indonesia: A Narrative Review.

Under- and overnutrition are co-existing health issues in several countries across Asia. Poor complementary feeding (CF) is a significant determinant of malnutrition in children and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the most recent evidence regarding the CF practices in 3 countries with a high prevalence of stunting and overweight, and currently undergoing rapid economic and nutritional transition: China, India, and Indonesia.

Early Life Exposure to a Diet With a Supramolecular Lipid Structure Close to That of Mammalian Milk Improves Early Life Growth, Skeletal Development, and Later Life Neurocognitive Function in Individually and Socially Housed Male C57BL/6J Mice.

Breastfeeding (duration) can be positively associated with infant growth outcomes as well as improved cognitive functions during childhood and later life stages. (Prolonged) exposure to optimal lipid quantity and quality, i.e.

The influence of the dietary exposome on oxidative stress in pregnancy complications.

Pregnancy complications including fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and preterm birth, as well as gestational diabetes, affect one in every four to five pregnancies. Accumulating evidence indicates that increased production of reactive oxygen species accompanies these complications. Given that reactive oxygen species are cell stress-inducing agents, they may have a causal role in disease pathophysiology, although the exact mechanisms by which they contribute to pregnancy complications are not completely understood.

Dietary lipid droplet structure in postnatal life improves hepatic energy and lipid metabolism in a mouse model for postnatal programming.

Early-life diets may have a long-lasting impact on metabolic health. This study tested the hypothesis that an early-life diet with large, phospholipid-coated lipid droplets (Concept) induces sustained improvements of hepatic mitochondrial function and metabolism. Young C57BL/6j mice were fed Concept or control (CTRL) diet from postnatal day 15 (PN15) to PN42, followed by western style (WSD) or standard rodent diet (AIN) until PN98.

Glycaemia dynamics in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Pregnant women may develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a disease of pregnancy characterised by maternal and fetal hyperglycaemia with hazardous consequences to the mother, the fetus, and the newborn. Maternal hyperglycaemia in GDM results in fetoplacental endothelial dysfunction. GDM-harmful effects result from chronic and short periods of hyperglycaemia.

An Infant Formula with Large, Milk Phospholipid-Coated Lipid Droplets Supports Adequate Growth and Is Well-Tolerated in Healthy, Term Asian Infants: A Randomized, Controlled Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Lipids are essential for healthy infant growth and development. The structural complexity of lipids in human milk is not present in infant milk formula (IF). A concept IF was developed mimicking more closely the structure and composition of human milk fat globules.

Early pregnancy hemoglobin is associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to determine the association between hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and Hb change, during early to mid-pregnancy with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This was a clinic-based retrospective cohort study of 1951 healthy pregnant women (18-45 years old) with a singleton gestation attending antenatal care at government health clinics. Hb concentration at first prenatal visit and each trimester was extracted from the antenatal cards.

High early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, within a sub-optimal range, is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study.

Background/objectives: Low early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels can increase gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk, although inconsistent findings related to that association have been reported. This study examined the association of serum vitamin D with GDM and the possible influencers on this association.

Subjects/methods: This study included 259 pregnant women within the Seremban Cohort Study (SECOST).

Postpartum Weight Change in Relation to Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain in Women in Low-Income Setting: Data from the KITE Cohort in the Northern Part of Ethiopia.

(1) Background: Postpartum weight may increase compared to pre-pregnancy due to weight retention or decrease due to weight loss. Both changes could pose deleterious effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum weight change and its associated factors.

Higher Animal Protein Intake During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy Is Associated With Risk of GDM.

This study aimed to examine the associations between the total protein intake as well as types and sources of proteins with the gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. This was a prospective cohort study of the pregnant women in Malaysia. In this study, the total, animal, and plant protein intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

The effect of dietary lipid quality in early life on serum LysoPC(18:2) levels and their association with adult blood glucose levels in intrauterine growth restricted rats.

Being born small-for-gestational-age, especially with subsequent catch-up growth, is associated with impaired metabolic health in later-life. We previously showed that a postnatal diet with an adapted lipid droplet structure can ameliorate some of the adverse metabolic consequences in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) rats. The aim of the present work was to explore possible underlying mechanism(s) and potential biomarkers.

Pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain: a prospective study in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia.

Background: In low-income countries, the high prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition remains a challenge for the future health of women and their offspring. On top of good nutrition, adequate gestational weight gain has been recognized as an essential prerequisite for optimal maternal and child health outcomes. However, good-quality data on factors influencing gestational weight gain is lacking.

Exposome and foetoplacental vascular dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus.

A balanced communication between the mother, placenta and foetus is crucial to reach a successful pregnancy. Several windows of exposure to environmental toxins are present during pregnancy. When the women metabolic status is affected by a disease or environmental toxin, the foetus is impacted and may result in altered development and growth.

Evaluation of an Infant Formula with Large, Milk-Phospholipid Coated Lipid Droplets on Long-Term Growth and Development of Singaporean Infants: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

A concept infant formula (IF) was developed with physical properties of lipid droplets mimicking more closely those in human milk. This paper describes the unique design of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the impact of the concept IF on infant growth and body composition development whilst applying a cohort-like recruitment approach that fully supports breastfeeding practices of the study population. Subjects entered the study between birth and 1 months of age, and whenever parents decided to introduce formula were randomised to one of three study formulas; the concept IF comprising large lipid droplets coated by milk phospholipids and containing a specific mixture of prebiotics, a standard IF with the specific prebiotic mixture or a standard IF without the prebiotic mixture.

Perspective: Moving Toward Desirable Linoleic Acid Content in Infant Formula.

Infant formula should provide the appropriate nutrients and adequate energy to facilitate healthy infant growth and development. If conclusive data on quantitative nutrient requirements are not available, the composition of human milk (HM) can provide some initial guidance on the infant formula composition. This paper provides a narrative review of the current knowledge, unresolved questions, and future research needs in the area of HM fatty acid (FA) composition, with a particular focus on exploring appropriate intake levels of the essential FA linoleic acid (LA) in infant formula.