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Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 7885

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hiromichi Shoji

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Guest Editor

Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Interests: DOHaD; FGR; insulin resistance; skeletal muscle

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research regarding the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) shows that pre and postnatal (the first 1000 days, from conception to two years of age) environmental factors can affect the body composition and disease development over the year. On the other hand, recent progression in neonatal intensive care has led to dramatic improvements in the survival of very preterm infants. These developments in neonatology have been associated with an increased number of infants with a short gestational age surviving their neonatal period; however, now their long-term health outcomes have become a matter of great concern. Studies among preterm-born children have found different body shapes compared to children born at term. However, it is unknown whether nutritional management or medication during hospitalization may improve body composition. For an upcoming Nutrients Special Issue, we are pleased to invite researchers to contribute articles focusing on clinical and animal studies regarding pathogenesis, diagnostics, and nutritional management for unique body composition in preterm infants.

Dr. Hiromichi Shoji
Guest Editor

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Keywords

preterm infants
aggressive nutrition
body composition
fat-free mass
skeletal muscle
human milk

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1866 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amelioration of Insulin Resistance by Whey Protein in a High-Fat Diet-Induced Pediatric Obesity Male Mouse Model

by Kengo Matsuda, Nobuhiko Nagano, Kimitaka Nakazaki, Daichi Katayama, Wataru Tokunaga, Koh Okuda, Shoichi Shimizu, Ryoji Aoki, Kazumasa Fuwa, Keisuke Shirai, Kazumichi Fujioka and Ichiro Morioka

Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1622; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111622 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2024

Abstract

This study examined whey protein’s impact on insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced pediatric obesity mouse model. Pregnant mice were fed high-fat diets, and male pups continued this diet until 8 weeks old, then were split into high-fat, whey, and casein diet groups. At 12 weeks old, their body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood insulin level (IRI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), liver lipid metabolism gene expression, and liver metabolites were compared. The whey group showed significantly lower body weight than the casein group at 12 weeks old (p = 0.034). FBG was lower in the whey group compared to the high-fat diet group (p < 0.01) and casein group (p = 0.058); IRI and HOMA-IR were reduced in the whey group compared to the casein group (p = 0.02, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). The levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and hormone-sensitive lipase were upregulated in the whey group compared to the casein group (p < 0.01, p = 0.03). Metabolomic analysis revealed that the levels of taurine and glycine, both known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, were upregulated in the whey group in the liver tissue (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). The intake of whey protein was found to improve insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced pediatric obesity mouse model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

9 pages, 551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Enteral Zinc Supplementation on the Anthropometric Measurements of Preterm Infants at Discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Evaluation of Copper Deficiency

by Kei Ogasawara, Hayato Go, Yoshinobu Honda and Hajime Maeda

Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111612 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2024

Viewed by 121

Abstract

Enteral zinc supplementation in preterm infants has been reported to improve short-term weight and height gain. This study aims to evaluate whether early enteral zinc supplementation in preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) affects their physical measurements at discharge, and to periodically test serum copper levels. Of the 221 patients admitted to the NICU, 102 were in the zinc group and 119 were in the no-zinc group. The zinc group was administered 3 mg/kg/day of zinc. Body weight, height, and head circumference at discharge (or on the expected delivery date) were evaluated, and the factors affecting these parameters were examined. Serum zinc and copper levels were also evaluated on admission and monthly thereafter. Multivariate analysis was performed and showed that the weeks of gestational age and small for gestational age (SGA) status affected the height and weight at discharge. SGA also affected the head circumference. Serum copper levels were within the reference range for all patients at 3 months of age. Enteral zinc supplementation of 3 mg/kg/day in preterm infants did not affect the weight, height, or head circumference at discharge, but was shown to be relatively safe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

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14 pages, 1527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Nutrient Intake on Body Composition in Very Low-Birth Weight Infants Following Early Progressive Enteral Feeding

by Rasa Brinkis, Kerstin Albertsson-Wikland, Kastytis Šmigelskas, Aurika Vanckavičienė, Ilona Aldakauskienė, Rasa Tamelienė and Rasa Verkauskienė

Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101462 - 13 May 2024

Viewed by 456

Abstract

Preterm infants have increased body adiposity at term-equivalent age and risk of adverse metabolic outcomes. The aim of the study was to define how nutrient intake may impact body composition (BC) of very low-birth weight infants fed with early progressive enteral feeding and standard fortification. Eighty-six infants with <1500 g birth weight were included in the BC study and stratified into extremely preterm (EP) and very preterm (VP) groups. Nutrient intake was calculated during the first 28 days and BC assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry at discharge and by skinfold thickness at 12 months of corrected age (CA). Total nutrient intake did not differ between the groups. EP infants had a higher fat mass percentage at discharge than VP infants (24.8% vs. 19.4%, p < 0.001); lean mass did not differ. None of the nutrients had any impact on BC of EP infants. Protein intake did not result in a higher lean mass in either group; fat intake was a significant predictor of increased fat mass percentage in VP infants at discharge (p = 0.007) and body adiposity at 12 months of CA (p = 0.021). Nutritional needs may depend on gestational age and routine fortification should be used with caution in more mature infants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

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14 pages, 1126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antenatal Growth, Gestational Age, Birth, Enteral Feeding, and Blood Citrulline Levels in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

by Midori Obayashi, Sachiko Iwata, Tomoya Okuda, Ichita Mori, Shigeharu Nakane, Yasuko Togawa, Mari Sugimoto, Takao Togawa, Kanji Muramatsu, Shinji Saitoh, Takahiro Sugiura and Osuke Iwata

Nutrients 2024, 16(4), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040476 - 7 Feb 2024

Viewed by 918

Abstract

Early enteral nutrition using reliable biomarkers of intestinal function must be established to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs). Serum citrulline levels reflect the intestinal function in adults. To elucidate the relationship among antenatal growth, postnatal enteral nutrition, and blood citrulline levels, a retrospective single-center observational study was conducted on 248 VLBWIs born between April 2014 and March 2021. A mixed effect model and post hoc simple slope analysis were used to estimate the correlations between clinical variables and citrulline levels at Early (day 5.1) and Late (day 24.3) postnatal ages. Greater gestational age, birth weight, and amount of enteral nutrition at the time of blood sampling were associated with lower citrulline levels at the Early postnatal age and higher citrulline levels at the Late postnatal age. Provided that Early citrulline levels predominantly reflect the consequence of antenatal citrulline metabolism, it is suggested that fetal growth and maturation are likely to promote citrulline catabolism in utero and its synthesis after birth. With additional insights into the temporal transition point wherein the maturation-dependent balance of citrulline metabolism shifts from catabolism-dominant to synthesis-dominant, citrulline emerges as a potential biomarker for assessing intestinal function and gastrointestinal disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

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11 pages, 3022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hepatic and Skeletal Muscle Autophagy Marker Levels in Rat Models of Prenatal and Postnatal Protein Restriction

by Irena Santosa, Hiromichi Shoji, Yoshiteru Arai, Kentaro Awata, Kazuhide Tokita and Toshiaki Shimizu

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 3058; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15133058 - 7 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1268

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) leads to adult-onset metabolic syndrome. Intrauterine and early postnatal caloric restriction ameliorates the risk in animal models. To understand the underlying mechanism, we compared autophagic marker levels between offspring with FGR and those with prenatal and early postnatal protein restriction (IPPR). We postulated that FGR would impair, whereas IPPR would help regulate, autophagy in neonatal rats. This study involved control (Con), FGR offspring (Pre), and IPPR offspring groups (Pre + Post); n = 5/group. We assessed the abundance of autophagy markers in the liver and skeletal muscles. At birth, the Pre group pups had lower levels of some autophagy-related proteins, with increased p62 expression and a low microtubule-associated protein light chain beta (LC3-II:LC3-I) ratio. This finding suggests a lower hepatic autophagy flux in FGR offspring than the Con group. The hepatic levels of autophagy proteins were considerably decreased in the Pre and Pre + Post groups at 21 days of age compared to the Con group, but the LC3-II:LC3-I ratio was higher in the Pre + Post group than in the Con and Pre groups. The muscle levels of beclin-1, LC3-II, and p62 were lower in the Pre group pups, with no difference in the LC3-II:LC3-I ratio among the groups. An imbalance in the nutritional environment is associated with downstream autophagic flux, thus suggesting that FGR offspring will have impaired autophagic flux, and that post-natal nutrition restriction might help reduce this risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

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13 pages, 3090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Body Fat-Reducing Effects of Whey Protein Diet in Male Mice

by Kimitaka Nakazaki, Nobuhiko Nagano, Daichi Katayama, Shoichi Shimizu, Kengo Matsuda, Wataru Tokunaga, Ryoji Aoki, Kazumasa Fuwa and Ichiro Morioka

Nutrients 2023, 15(10), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102263 - 10 May 2023

Viewed by 2069

Abstract

This study investigated the mechanism of reducing body fat via whey protein diet. Pregnant mice were fed whey or casein, and their offspring were fed by birth mothers. After weaning at 4 weeks, male pups received the diets administered to their birth mothers (n = 6 per group). At 12 weeks of age, body weight, fat mass, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (IRI), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), cholesterol (Cho), triglyceride (TG), the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in liver tissues and metabolomic data of fat tissues were measured and compared between the groups. The birth weights of pups born were similar in the two groups. Compared to the pups in the casein group, at 12 weeks of age, pups in the whey group weighed less, had significantly lower fat mass, HOMA-IR and TG levels (p < 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.01, respectively), and significantly higher levels of the antioxidant glutathione and the anti-inflammatory 1-methylnicotinamide in fat tissues (p < 0.01, p = 0.04, respectively). No differences were observed in FBG, IRI, Cho levels (p = 0.75, p = 0.07, p = 0.63, respectively) and expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes. Whey protein has more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than casein protein, which may be its mechanism for reducing body fat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

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9 pages, 1114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Head and Chest Circumference Ratio as an Index of Fetal Growth Retardation in Preterm Infants

by Hiromichi Shoji, Yayoi Murano, Yukika Saitoh, Naho Ikeda, Natsuki Ohkawa, Naoto Nishizaki, Ken Hisata, Masato Kantake, Kaoru Obinata, Daisuke Yoneoka and Toshiaki Shimizu

Nutrients 2022, 14(22), 4942; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224942 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2094

Abstract

We evaluated the relationship between fetal growth in preterm babies using the head circumference (HC)/chest circumference (CC) ratio and other anthropometric parameters at birth and at school age. Data were collected from 187 very low birth weight (VLBW) children born at less than 30 weeks of gestational age (GA) at birth and at 6 years. We assessed the correlation between the HC/CC ratio and body weight (BW), body length (BL), and HC z-scores at birth, and BW, body height (BH), and body mass index (BMI) z-scores at 6 years. Multiple regression analysis showed that BW z-score, BL z-score, and HC z-score at birth were significantly associated with HC/CC at birth. The BMI z-score at 6 years was also significantly associated with HC/CC at birth. The HC/CC ratio at birth is a reliable parameter for evaluating fetal growth restriction and a possible predictor of physical growth in VLBW children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Perinatal Condition and Nutritional Management on Patterns of Growth and Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Infants)

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