Scope: Ready-to-feed liquid infant formula is increasingly used for preterm infants when human milk is unavailable. These formulas are sterilized by ultra-high temperature treatment, but heating and storage may reduce bioactivity and increase formation of Maillard reaction products with potential negative consequences for immature newborns.

Methods And Results: Using preterm pigs as a model for sensitive newborn infants, the study tests the intestinal responses of feeding experimental liquid formula within 5 days. A pasteurized formula (PAST) with the same nutrient composition but less protein modifications serves as control to ultra-high temperature-treated formula without (UHT) and with prolonged storage (SUHT). Relative to PAST, UHT contains lower levels of lactoferrin and IgG. Additional storage (40 °C, 60 days, SUHT) reduces antimicrobial capacity and increases non-reducible protein aggregates and Maillard reaction products (up to 13-fold). Pigs fed SUHT have more diarrhea and show signs of intestinal inflammation (necrotizing enterocolitis) compared with pigs fed PAST and UHT. These clinical effects are accompanied by accumulation of Maillard reaction products, protein cross-links, and inflammatory responses in the gut.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that feeding UHT infant formulas, particularly after prolonged storage, adversely affects gut maturation and function in preterm pigs used as a model of preterm infants.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9786312PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202200132DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

preterm pigs
12
maillard reaction
12
reaction products
12
ultra-high temperature
8
temperature treatment
8
infant formula
8
protein modifications
8
preterm infants
8
pigs model
8
prolonged storage
8

Similar Publications

Preterm birth exposes the neonate to hypoxic-ischaemic and excitotoxic insults that impair neurodevelopment and are magnified by the premature loss of placentally supplied, inhibitory neurosteroids. The cerebellum is a neuronally dense brain region, which undergoes critical periods of development during late gestation, when preterm births frequently occur. We propose that neurosteroid replacement therapy using tiagabine and zuranolone will protect the cerebellum against preterm-associated insults.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are administered where there is risk of preterm birth to promote fetal lung development and improve perinatal survival. However, treatment may be associated with increased risk of developing neurobehavioural disorders. We have recently identified that ACS results in significant changes to DNA methylation patterns in the newborn and juvenile prefrontal cortex (PFC) of exposed guinea pig offspring.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Preterm infants are highly susceptible to iron deficiency, but understanding of their iron regulation is limited.
  • The research aimed to create a suitable animal model by inducing prematurity in piglets, allowing assessment of iron status similar to that of preterm human infants.
  • Findings showed that preterm piglets had lower body weight and plasma iron but higher tissue iron and levels of iron-regulatory hormones, indicating a unique pattern of iron metabolism that suggests functional iron deficiency and accumulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * A study using guinea pigs showed that those born preterm experienced significant cardiovascular challenges when exposed to extreme temperatures, mimicking conditions that may arise due to climate change.
  • * This research highlights early signs of cardiovascular dysfunction in preterm-born individuals as young as 8-10 years, suggesting that their bodies respond poorly to both heat and cold, similar to older adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The postnatal environment is challenging for the preterm neonate with exposure to hypoxic and excitotoxic events, amplified by premature loss of placentally derived neurosteroids. Between preterm birth and term equivalent age (TEA), cerebellar development continues despite these challenges. We hypothesize that neurosteroid replacement therapy during this time will support optimal cerebellar development.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!