Soy-Based Infant Formula is Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Comorbidities in Fragile X Syndrome.

David Hessl,Milen Velinov,Cara J Westmark,Amie Milunovich,Barbara Haas-Givler,Nicole Tartaglia,Craig Erickson,Kelly Elver,Chad Kniss,Angel Wang,Ryan Uy,Emmanuel Sampene,Jonathon Picker,Andrea L Gropman,Amy Esler,Amy Talboy,Elizabeth M Berry-Kravis

doi:10.3390/nu12103136

Abstract

A large number of adults and children consume soy in various forms, but little information is available regarding potential neurological side effects. Prior work indicates an association between the consumption of soy-based diets and seizure prevalence in mouse models of neurological disease and in children with autism. Herein, we sought to evaluate potential associations between the consumption of soy-based formula during infancy and disease comorbidities in persons with fragile X syndrome (FXS), while controlling for potentially confounding issues, through a retrospective case-control survey study of participants with FXS enrolled in the Fragile X Online Registry with Accessible Research Database (FORWARD). There was a 25% usage rate of soy-based infant formula in the study population. We found significant associations between the consumption of soy-based infant formula and the comorbidity of autism, gastrointestinal problems (GI) and allergies. Specifically, there was a 1.5-fold higher prevalence of autism, 1.9-fold GI problems and 1.7-fold allergies in participants reporting the use of soy-based infant formula. The major reason for starting soy-based infant formula was GI problems. The average age of seizure and allergy onset occurred long after the use of soy-based infant formula. We conclude that early-life feeding with soy-based infant formula is associated with the development of several disease comorbidities in FXS.

Highlights

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability with a frequency of 1 in 5000 males and 1 in 4000–8000 females [1]
We find significantly increased comorbidity of autism, gastrointestinal problems (GI) problems and allergies in the FORWARD population associated with the use of soy-based infant formula
We emphasize that this study shows associations between soy-based infant formula and fragile X syndrome (FXS)

Summary

Introduction

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability with a frequency of 1 in 5000 males and 1 in 4000–8000 females [1]. Seizures are the most substantial medical problem in children with FXS occurring in ~8–16% of males and ~3–7% of females, typically in the first 5 years of life [1]. FXS is not one of the 29 core conditions included in the newborn screening (NBS) guidelines developed by the American College of Medical Genetics, it is a high priority genetic disorder for which screening would be possible if there was an empirically-supported therapy [3]. Findings from our laboratory indicate that soy-based diets increase seizure prevalence in a mouse model of FXS (Fmr1KO mice) and are associated with increased febrile seizures, simple partial seizures, epilepsy comorbidity and autism phenotypes in a population of children with autism [4,5,6].

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion