Formula with large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets in late-moderate preterm infants: a double-blind RCT.

Background: Limited evidence exists on the preferred feeding method when breastfeeding is not possible in late and moderate preterm (LMPT) infants. This RCT evaluates growth, safety, and tolerance of a concept infant formula (IF) with large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets enriched in dairy lipids in LMPT infants with primary objective to demonstrate non-inferiority of daily weight gain from randomization to 3 months corrected age compared to a standard IF.

Methods: LMPT infants were randomized before or around term equivalent age to either the concept (n = 21) or standard IF (n = 20).

Tailored recommendations for infant milk formula intake results in more accurate feeding.

Unlabelled: Currently available guidelines on the daily formula milk requirements of infants are based on the needs of infants with their growth pattern following the 50th percentile of the weight-for-age growth curve. Hence, current recommendations may not thoroughly detail the needs of infants across the broad spectrum of body weight percentiles. This study aimed to provide stratified recommendations for daily formula milk intake of fully formula-fed infants, across different weight-for-age categories from 0 to 4 months.

Growth Patterns of 11-29-Month-Old Children Consuming Young Child Formula: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized, Controlled Study.

Introduction: The impact of young child formula (YCF) consumption on children's growth, particularly under suboptimal conditions, has scarcely been studied. In the current study, weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) z-score development was evaluated in children from five different countries (n = 668) who participated in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Methods: The children (1-3 years old) were randomized to one of two intervention YCFs (with presence or absence of prebiotics and n-3 LCPUFAs) during 52 weeks of intervention.

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.

Infant fat mass and later child and adolescent health outcomes: a systematic review.

Objective: Obesity and excess adiposity are leading causes of metabolic and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Early identification of individuals at risk is key for preventive strategies. We examined the relationship between infant body composition (0-2 years of age) and later (>2 years) health outcomes using a systematic review.

Early infancy growth, body composition and type of feeding in late and moderate preterms.

Background: Late and moderate preterm (LMPT) infants are at risk for adverse later life outcomes. We determined the association between feeding method at enrolment and growth and body composition of LMPT infants until 3 months corrected age (3mCA).

Methods: Infants born between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation (n = 107) were enrolled up to 4 weeks corrected age and stratified according to feeding at enrolment.

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.

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.

A partially hydrolyzed formula with synbiotics supports adequate growth and is well tolerated in healthy, Chinese term infants: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate growth and gastrointestinal tolerance in infants fed a partially hydrolyzed protein formula (pHF) with a synbiotic mixture of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS; 9:1) and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (test formula) compared with an intact protein infant formula (IF) with scGOS/lcFOS (control formula).

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter trial enrolled healthy, fully formula-fed Chinese infants (≤44 d) who received either the test (n = 112) or control formula (n = 112) until 17 wk of age. Fully breastfed infants served as a reference (n = 60).

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.

Infant Feeding and Ethnic Differences in Body Mass Index during Childhood: A Prospective Study.

This study investigated ethnic differences in childhood body mass index (BMI) in children from Dutch and Turkish descent and the role of infant feeding factors (breastfeeding duration, milk feeding frequency, as well as the timing, frequency and variety of complementary feeding (CF)). We used data from 244 children (116 Dutch and 128 Turkish) participating in a prospective study in the Netherlands. BMI was measured at 2, 3 and 5 years and standard deviation scores (sds) were derived using WHO references.

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.

Dietary Patterns in Early Childhood and the Risk of Childhood Overweight: The GECKO Drenthe Birth Cohort.

Limited and inconsistent evidence exists on the associations between dietary patterns and overweight during childhood. The present study describes dietary patterns of three-year-old Dutch children and associations between childhood overweight and body mass index (BMI) development between 3 and 10 years. In the GECKO Drenthe birth cohort (N = 1306), body height and weight were measured around the age of 3, 4, 5, and 10 years, and overweight was defined according to Cole and Lobstein.

Long-term effects of a modified, low-protein infant formula on growth and body composition: Follow-up of a randomized, double-blind, equivalence trial.

Background & Aim: High protein intake in early life is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. Feeding a modified lower-protein (mLP) infant formula (1.7 g protein/100 kcal) until the age of 6 months is safe and supports adequate growth.

Early-Life Metabolic and Hormonal Markers in Blood and Growth until Age 2 Years: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Infants Fed a Modified Low-Protein Infant Formula.

Background: High protein intake in early life is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. Dietary protein intake may be a key mechanistic modulator through alterations in endocrine and metabolic responses.

Objective: We aimed to determine the impact of different protein intake of infants on blood metabolic and hormonal markers at the age of four months.

Appetite-regulating hormone trajectories and relationships with fat mass development in term-born infants during the first 6 months of life.

Background: The first 6 months of life are a critical window for adiposity programming. Appetite-regulating hormones (ARH) are involved in food intake regulation and might, therefore, play a role in adiposity programming. Studies examining ARH in early life are limited.

An Observational Cohort Study and Nested Randomized Controlled Trial on Nutrition and Growth Outcomes in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants (FLAMINGO).

Over the past decades, the preterm birth rate has increased, mostly due to a rise in late and moderate preterm (LMPT, 32-36 weeks gestation) births. LMPT birth affects 6-7% of all births in the United Kingdom and is associated with increased morbidity risk after birth in infancy as well as in adulthood. Early life nutrition has a critical role in determining infant growth and development, but there are limited data specifically addressing LMPT infants, which was the rationale for the design of the current study.

Longitudinal telomere length and body composition in healthy term-born infants during the first two years of life.

Objective: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is one of the markers of biological aging as shortening occurs over time. Shorter LTL has been associated with adiposity and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. The objective was to assess LTL and LTL shortening during the first 2 years of life in healthy, term-born infants and to associate LTL shortening with potential stressors and body composition.

Feeding patterns and BMI trajectories during infancy: a multi-ethnic, prospective birth cohort.

Background: Milk feeding type (exclusive breastfeeding [EBF], formula feeding or mixed feeding) and timing of complementary feeding (CF) have been associated with infant growth. However, studies evaluating their combined role, and the role of ethnicity, are scarce. We examined associations of feeding patterns (milk feeding type combined with timing of CF) with infant body mass index (BMI) trajectories and potential ethnic-specific associations.

Longitudinal human milk macronutrients, body composition and infant appetite during early life.

Background & Aims: Breastfeeding is the gold standard infant feeding. Data on macronutrients in relation to longitudinal body composition and appetite are very scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal human milk macronutrients at 1 and 3 months in association with body composition and appetite during early life in healthy, term-born infants.

A Partly Fermented Infant Formula with Postbiotics Including 3'-GL, Specific Oligosaccharides, 2'-FL, and Milk Fat Supports Adequate Growth, Is Safe and Well-Tolerated in Healthy Term Infants: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled, Multi-Country Trial.

This study investigated growth, safety, and tolerance in healthy infants consuming a partly fermented infant formula (IF) with postbiotics, 2'-linked fucosyllactose (2'-FL), a specific prebiotic mixture of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), and milk fat. This double-blind, controlled trial randomised 215 fully IF-fed infants ≤ 14 days of age to either: Test Group (IF) containing 26% fermented formula with postbiotics derived from Lactofidus fermentation process (including 3'-Galactosyllactose; 3'-GL), 0.8 g/100 mL scGOS/lcFOS (9:1), 0.

An Infant Formula with Partially Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Supports Adequate Growth and Is Safe and Well-Tolerated in Healthy, Term Infants: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Equivalence Trial.

The current study evaluates the safety and tolerance of a partially hydrolyzed whey protein-based infant formula (PHF) versus an in intact cow's milk protein formula (IPF). Breastfed infants were included as a reference group. In a multi-country, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial, infants whose mothers intended to fully formula feed were randomized to PHF ( = 134) or IPF ( = 134) from ≤14 days to 17 weeks of age.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated with Age-Specific Alterations in Markers of Adiposity in Offspring: A Narrative Review.

Maternal hyperglycemia alters an offspring's metabolic health outcomes, as demonstrated by the increased risk for obesity, impaired glucose handling and diabetes from early childhood onwards. Infant growth patterns are associated with childhood adiposity and metabolic health outcomes and, as such, can be used as potential markers to detect suboptimal metabolic development at an early age. Hence, we aimed to assess whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has an impact on offspring growth trajectories.

A modified low-protein infant formula supports adequate growth in healthy, term infants: a randomized, double-blind, equivalence trial.

Background: A high protein intake in early life is associated with a risk of obesity later in life. The essential amino acid requirements of formula-fed infants have been reassessed recently, enabling a reduction in total protein content and thus in protein intake.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the safety of an infant formula with a modified amino acid profile and a modified low-protein (mLP) content in healthy term-born infants.

Partially Hydrolysed Whey-Based Formulae with Reduced Protein Content Support Adequate Infant Growth and Are Well Tolerated: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthy Term Infants.

The current study aimed to investigate growth, safety and tolerance of partially hydrolysed infant formulae in healthy full-term infants. Fully formula-fed infants were randomised ≤14 days of age to receive a partially hydrolysed whey formula with 2.27 g protein/100 kcal (pHF2.