Influence of Formula versus Breast Milk on Cholesterol Synthesis Rates in Four-Month-Old Infants

Abstract

We investigated whether supplementation of regular formula (RF) with cholesterol (Ch) (RF+Ch) influenced circulating Ch levels and de novo synthesis compared with their breast-fed (BF) counterparts in 4-mo-old infants. The incorporation rate of deuterium in body water into erythrocyte membrane-free Ch over 48 h was used as an index of cholesterogenesis. Plasma total-Ch and LDL-Ch concentrations were highest (p < 0.02) in BF infants, compared with infants in the RF-fed groups. Infants in the RF+Ch groups showed an intermediate response; their plasma total-Ch and LDL-Ch concentrations were not significantly different from the BF or the RF-fed groups. Plasma total/HDL-Ch and LDL/HDL-Ch ratios were higher (p < 0.05) in BF, and higher in RF+Ch-fed infants, compared with those fed RF, whereas not different between BF and RF+Ch-fed infants. At 4 mo of age, Ch FSR was 4-fold lower (p < 0.0001) in BF versus other groups, but not significantly different between RF- and RF+Ch-fed infants. Thus, despite addition of Ch to the concentration found in breast milk, FSR remained elevated compared with that of the group fed breast milk, with an intermediate response in circulating Ch levels. It is speculated that factors other than Ch intake account for the differential Ch metabolism between formula-fed and BF infants.

Effects of Early Cholesterol Intake on Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Plasma Lipids Among Infants Until 18 Months of Age

“…The positive relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and serum lipid levels in the neonatal period is well established in both animal 4-10 and infant [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] studies. The higher HDL cholesterol levels exhibited by the MCF-fed infants (Table 4), compared with HM-and CF-fed infants, might be attributable in part to differences in the form of cholesterol in HM and MCF.…”

“…Previous human infant studies showed a significant inverse relationship between dietary cholesterol and FSR at 4 months. [16][17][18][19] With deuterium incorporation methods, previous investigators estimated that endogenous cholesterol FSR ranged from 0.02 pools per day among breastfed infants to 0.11 pools per day among infants fed formulas with varying concentrations of cholesterol. The present study demonstrated an effect of infant diet on FSR at 4 months, with CF-fed infants having an up-regulated rate of endogenous cholesterol production, compared with HM-fed infants.…”

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] After weaning, however, the differences in serum cholesterol concentrations moderate, with no consistent differences seen from 1 to 16 years of age. 11,[20][21][22][23][24] In most adult studies, both total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were lower among adults who had been breastfed as infants.…”

“…Studies among infants showed that the cholesterol FSR is inversely related to cholesterol intake at 4 months of age. [16][17][18][19] However, the formulas used different levels of phytosterols, phytoestrogens, and hormones, confounded by different fatty acid profiles and questions regarding the bioavailability of supplemental cholesterol. 19 The present study attempted to address all of the aforementioned issues by feeding identical formulas that differed only in terms of cholesterol content; the modified cow's milk formula (MCF) was supplemented with a more bioavailable form of cholesterol to an intermediate level between regular CF and HM, to elucidate clearly the relationship between dietary cholesterol, plasma lipids, and FSR.…”

Artificial Infant Formula Consumption and Breastfeeding Trends in Ecuador, A Population-Based Analysis from 2007 to 2014

“…However, when the mass consumption of infant formula results in a reduction or replacement of breastfeeding, there is a risk for negative population level health outcomes (Chantry, Dewey, Peerson, Wagner, & Nommsen-Rivers, 2014;Schanler, 2015;Sethi, 2012). An increasing number of studies have identified potential associations between artificial formula consumption and poor health later in life, including autoimmune diseases, excess body weight, asthma, eczema and Type II diabetes (Bayley et al, 1998;Chandra, Puri, & Hamed, 1989;Gillman et al, 2001;Labiner-Wolfe et al, 2008;Patelarou et al, 2012;Slusser, 2007).…”