Nutrition in the first days and weeks of life affects our health for many years, probably thanks to a phenomenon known as metabolic programming, scientists from France believe.
They presented the results of their research at this year’s Meeting of Academic Unions of Pediatricians in Denver (USA).
Metabolic programming is the term used to describe the effects of early life nutrition on human metabolism and future health.
Researchers from the University of Lyon compared the height, build and blood pressure of three healthy groups of newborns born in term. The babies in one group were fed only breast milk for the first four months of life; the other two groups of newborns were fed infant formula – some children were fed low-protein formula (1,8 g protein / 100 kcal), others were fed high-protein formula (2,7 g protein / 100 kcal). The protein content of both mixtures was within the recommended range of the protein level in milk for children – from 1,8 to 3 g / kcal.
After four months, breastfed babies were given a low-protein formula if their mothers returned to work.
The researchers followed the health of 234 babies for 3 years and found that pure breastfeeding in the first weeks of life induced a characteristic growth pattern and a specific metabolic profile different from that of formula-fed toddlers.
Already on the 15th day of life, the level of insulin in the blood was much lower in breastfed babies than in formula fed babies, the difference was maintained until 4 months of age. Similarly, infants initially differed in body composition and body mass index, but these differences disappeared by the time the children were three years old.
Significant differences in blood pressure values were observed in three-year-old children – toddlers fed with a high-protein formula had the highest blood pressure, while those who were breastfed were the lowest. Nevertheless, the pressure values of all the little ones were within the normal range.
The authors of the report emphasize that further, more detailed research is necessary. For now, they recommend breastfeeding infants or – if this is not possible – with formulas closest to the mother’s milk. (PAP)