Mechanistic Effects of Early Life Feeding Exposure on Infant Inflammatory and Health Status
University of Idaho
Summary
Background: Although breastfeeding has known protective effects, such as preventing childhood obesity, the specific mechanisms remain unclear. Idaho has a high breastfeeding initiation rate (92%) but a significant prevalence of childhood obesity (30.5% overweight/obese). Limited research exists on the impact of maternal inflammation, maternal body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations in breastmilk on infant health outcomes, especially in healthy full-term infants. Objective: This study aims to expand understanding of the role of maternal inflammation on breastmilk composition and its effect on infant immune development. The investigators seek to investigate the relationship between maternal health status, breastmilk inflammatory concentrations, and balanced immune development in infants. Additionally, the investigators aim to explore the potential influence of early diet exposure, including maternal inflammatory status, on the risk of obesity and other inflammatory conditions. Methods: Healthy full-term infants (breastfed/formula-fed) and their mothers will be recruited. Maternal inflammation markers (BMI, CRP, IL-6) and immune markers in infants will be analyzed. Flow cytometry will assess immune populations. Correlations between maternal systemic inflammation, infant inflammation, and breastmilk inflammatory markers will be examined for breastfeeding mothers. Outcomes: The investigators hypothesize breastfed infants will display a more favorable anti-inflammatory profile. This study will identify factors influencing immune development and potential pathways linking early-life exposures to long-term health outcomes. Findings will inform strategies for promoting balanced immune development and elucidate the role of early diet exposure, including maternal inflammation, as a protective or risk factor for obesity and inflammatory conditions.
Description
The immune system of newborns is immature and undergoes rapid development during the first few months of life. Inflammation is a natural response to infection or tissue injury, but excessive or prolonged inflammation can be detrimental to immune development. Understanding the relationship between inflammation and immune development in healthy full-term infants is critical to developing effective interventions to promote healthy immune function in early life. This project will collect blood samples from healthy full-term infants at 2 and 4 months of age. The samples will be analyzed using flow…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Mother at least 18 years of age * Mother is in third trimester (week 27 of gestation) or biological infant is 5 weeks of age or younger * Mother plans to continue to provide your infant breastmilk (by breastfeeding or by pumping) for at least 18 weeks (4.5 months) from your delivery date or mother plans to continue to provide formula exclusively to infant for at least 18 weeks of life. * Mother lives within a 45-mile radius of Study Site, or is willing to deliver samples for visits 2, 4, and 6. * Mother willing to meet at (designated sample collection site) for visits 3…
Interventions
- OtherObservational
This study is only observational in nature and will not include an intervention.
Location
- University of IdahoMoscow, Idaho