Different Blood Metabolomics Profiles in Infants Consuming a Meat- or Dairy-Based Complementary Diet

Abstract

Background: Research is limited in evaluating the mechanisms responsible for infant growth in response to different protein-rich foods; Methods: Targeted and untargeted metabolomics analysis were conducted on serum samples collected from an infant controlled-feeding trial that participants consumed a meat- vs. dairy-based complementary diet from 5 to 12 months of age, and followed up at 24 months. Results: Isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine increased and threonine decreased over time among all participants; Although none of the individual essential amino acids had a significant impact on changes in growth Z scores from 5 to 12 months, principal component heavily weighted by BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine) and phenylalanine had a positive association with changes in length-for-age Z score from 5 to 12 months. Concentrations of acylcarnitine-C4, acylcarnitine-C5 and acylcarnitine-C5:1 significantly increased over time with the dietary intervention, but none of the acylcarnitines were associated with infant growth Z scores. Quantitative trimethylamine N-oxide increased in the meat group from 5 to 12 months; Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increasing total protein intake by providing protein-rich complementary foods was associated with increased concentrations of certain essential amino acids and short-chain acyl-carnitines. The sources of protein-rich foods (e.g., meat vs. dairy) did not appear to differentially impact serum metabolites, and comprehensive mechanistic investigations are needed to identify other contributors or mediators of the diet-induced infant growth trajectories.

Associations of diet quality and food consumption with serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism in Finnish children: the PANIC study

“…We observed a direct association between the consumption of low-fat (< 1%) milk and serum phenylalanine. Consistent results have been reported in a study examining the effects of dairy- and meat-based complementary diets among infants [ 43 ]. The consumption of milk with higher fat content was not associated with phenylalanine in our data.…”

Preparation of Complementary Food for Infants and Young Children with Beef Liver: Process Optimization and Storage Quality

“…Essential amino acids play an important role in linear growth and neurocognitive development in infants and young children [48]. Among them, leucine is considered an effective nutritional signal for inducing muscle synthesis and bone density, and high-quality animal-based protein improves linear growth in infants and children at risk of growth retardation [49].…”

Different gut microbiota in U.S. formula-fed infants consuming a meat vs. dairy-based complementary foods: A randomized controlled trial

“…Although these biomarkers have been suggested as mediators linking protein in infant formula to rapid weight gain ( 11 ), the similar increase of these biomarkers between meat and dairy groups in our study did not explain the differential growth patterns between infants consuming meat vs. dairy-based complementary diets. Likewise, analysis of untargeted serum metabolomics ( 12 ) also found no significant differences between the meat and dairy groups at 12 months or associations between metabolites and infant growth parameters. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the impact of complementary foods on infant gut microbiota development and the potential associations between gut microbiota and infant growth.…”