ASSOCIATION OF EARLY NUTRITION AND GENDER WITH METABOLIC RISK IN HEALTHY CHILDREN AT 4 YEARS OF AGE

Introduction: During infancy it is possible to detect numerous risk factors that determine long-term health status. Excess weight in the first years of life increases the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Biological factors, such as gender, may determine greater predisposition to develop these diseases.
Objectives: To analyze the relationship between a new infant formula and gender with metabolic risk in healthy children at 4 years of age.
Methods: A total of 170 healthy infants between 0-2 months of age were included in a randomized double-blind study to receive either a standard infant formula (F1: n=85) or one supplemented with different compositions of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), synbiotics, sialic acid, nucleotides and gangliosides (Nutriexpert® factor) (F2: n=85). As a control group, 50 breastfed infants (BF) were
included. Anthropometric measures were evaluated at 4 years of age. The sum of skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) and Slaughter’s equations was used to calculate body fat mass (BFM). Additionally, blood pressure (BP) was measured. In the statistical analysis normal distribution was assumed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test; ANOVA, Student t-test and Chi-Square test and SPSS 22.0 were performed.
Results: At 4 years of age, 102 children were assessed (F1: n=46/ F2: n=43/ BF=13) (Boys n=60/ Girls n=42). There were no differences between study groups in BFM and BP. However, girls presented higher BFM and were classified as overweight and obese more frequently than boys (p<0.001). Analysis revealed that girls presented a normal-high systolic BP compared to boys (p=0.002).
Conclusions: Metabolic risk factors are associated with gender and could determine the development of metabolic pathologies later in life. At 4 years of age, excess fat mass and high blood pressure are associated with the female gender. An adequate nutrition during the first months of life might reduce the risk of developing metabolic disorders.
Conflict of interest: Funded by Ordesa Laboratories.