Development of Visceral and Subcutaneous-Abdominal Adipose Tissue in Breastfed Infants during First Year of Lactation.

Zoya Gridneva,Wan Jun Tie,Ching Tat Lai,Sambavi Kugananthan,Peter E Hartmann,Alethea Rea,Kevin Murray,Donna T Geddes

doi:10.3390/nu13093294

Zoya Gridneva, Wan Jun Tie + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093294

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Sep 21, 2021
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Western Australia, Murdoch University

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate relationships between infant abdominal visceral and subcutaneous adiposity and human milk (HM) components and maternal body composition (BC) during first year of lactation. Subcutaneous-abdominal depth (SAD), subcutaneous-abdominal fat area (SFA), visceral depth (VD) and preperitoneal fat area of 20 breastfed infants were assessed at 2, 5, 9 and 12 months using ultrasound. Maternal BC was determined with bioimpedance spectroscopy. HM macronutrients and bioactive components concentrations and infant 24-h milk intake were measured and calculated daily intakes (CDI) determined. Maternal adiposity associated with infant SFA (negatively at 2, 5, 12, positively at 9 months, all overall p < 0.05). 24-h milk intake positively associated with infant SAD (p = 0.007) and VD (p = 0.013). CDI of total protein (p = 0.013), total carbohydrates (p = 0.004) and lactose (p = 0.013) positively associated with SFA. Lactoferrin concentration associated with infant VD (negatively at 2, 12, positively at 5, 9 months, overall p = 0.003). CDI of HM components and maternal adiposity have differential effects on development of infant visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adiposity. Maintaining healthy maternal BC and continuing breastfeeding to 12 months and beyond may facilitate favourable BC development reducing risk of obesity.

Highlights

Abdominal obesity is one of the facets of metabolic syndrome and is critically important in clinical diagnosis [1]
Another study reported that visceral depths were lower at 3 and 12 months of age in infants that were exclusively breastfed at 3 months, suggesting visceral and subcutaneous-abdominal adiposities may be differentially regulated during infancy [12]
The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was found to relate positively to percentage fat mass (%FM) and subcutaneous, but not visceral fat (VF) [14], with maternal factors having no effect on development of these fat depots; infants were followed up to 6 months only, with 38% exclusively breastfed at 3 months of age (19% at 6 months)

Summary

Introduction

Abdominal obesity is one of the facets of metabolic syndrome and is critically important in clinical diagnosis [1] Fat distribution in this area plays an important role in outcomes such as obesity-related morbidity and cardio metabolic risk with visceral adipose tissue being the most metabolically and pro-inflammatory active fat depot [2], whilst subcutaneous adipose tissue, superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue, associating with protection [3]. The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was found to relate positively to percentage fat mass (%FM) and subcutaneous, but not VF [14], with maternal factors having no effect on development of these fat depots; infants were followed up to 6 months only, with 38% exclusively breastfed at 3 months of age (19% at 6 months). The only study that investigated effect of HM macronutrient composition on infant abdominal adiposity showed positive relationships between HM fat concentration and infant abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, but negative between protein concentration and VF thickness [15]

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