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Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

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Title: Body composition, diet and developmental outcomes during the first 6 years of infants fed breastmilk, cow's milk or soy infant formula

Author
item SOBIK, SARAH - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item SIMSA, CLARK - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item MCCORKLE, GINGER - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item BELLANDO, JAYNE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item SORENSEN, SETH - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item Badger, Thomas
item CASEY, PATRICK - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item WILLIAMS, KEITH - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item ANDRES, ALINE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2020
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Although soy protein-based infant formula (SF) has been reported to support normal infant development and growth compared to cow's milk-based formula (MF) and human milk (breastfed, BM), there are limited data on the outcomes in school-aged children. This study longitudinally characterized the developmental status, growth and body composition of children age 3 months to 6 years who were primarily fed human milk, cow's milk-based formula or soy protein-based formula from birth to 12 months of age. Healthy infants and children were assessed at ages 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 52, 60, and 72 months. Growth was evaluated using standardized anthropometrics. Body composition (fat mass and fat free mass) was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and development was assessed using the Preschool Language Scale-3 (PLS-3), Children's Memory Scale Index (CMS), and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Third Edition (WPPSI-III). Mixed effect models were used while adjusting for socioeconomic status, gestational age, birth weight, birth length, child race and sex, maternal education, and paternal education. Body Mass Index (BMI) was significantly lower between 24 and 72 months in breastfeeding (BF) children when compared to SF children at all visits. At ages 3 and 6 months, BF infants had significantly higher fat mass (FM) than SF infants in infancy; however, BF children had significantly lower FM at 36 and 48 months than SF children. SF participants had higher scores on the Delayed Recognition Index of the CMS (P=0.009) compared to MF participants. There was no significant difference found in neurodevelopmental testing between all three diet groups. BMI and FM were both lower in BF children starting at 24 and 36 months respectively when compared to SF infants. Although SF infants had a lower FM than BF children in infancy, this effect appears to be transient. All scores on development assessments were within normal ranges for each group and SF and MF groups only differed slightly in delayed recognition. This distinct study continues to support ongoing data that there is no significant difference in growth or neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants and children who were breastfed versus formula fed.