Nutrients

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4 pages, 173 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact Through the Life Course

by Haoran Ren, Yubo Zhou and Jianmeng Liu

Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040632 - 10 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1277

Abstract

The term “early life” refers to the period spanning from the fetal stage to the age of two years after birth, encompassing a total duration of approximately 1000 days [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

Research

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11 pages, 618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk with Obesity, Body Composition and Metabolic Abnormalities in School-Aged Children and Adolescents

by Zijun Liao, Yiren Chen, Lijun Wu, Yiying Huang, Shaoli Li, Junting Liu, Xinnan Zong, Jun Tai and Fangfang Chen

Nutrients 2024, 16(15), 2419; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16152419 - 25 Jul 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2298

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the associations between obesity, body composition, and the self-reported risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to examine whether the risk of OSA is related to metabolic abnormalities in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. [...] Read more.

The objective of this study is to explore the associations between obesity, body composition, and the self-reported risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to examine whether the risk of OSA is related to metabolic abnormalities in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. Utilizing data from the 2022 to 2023 Beijing Children and Adolescents Health Cohort baseline survey, 5000 school-aged participants were analyzed. OSA risk was assessed via the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, with anthropometric and body composition measurements taken. Metabolic markers included blood pressure, lipid levels, blood glucose, and uric acid. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression and generalized linear models. Results showed that 88.6% were low-risk and 11.4% were high-risk for OSA. Overweight (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.22–1.92), obesity (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.57–2.40), and abdominal obesity (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.31–1.93) significantly increased OSA risk. High fat mass was a critical factor, while muscle mass was not, especially in those who were overweight and obese. Associations of OSA risk with metabolic abnormalities were non-significant after adjusting for BMI. Our research highlights the significant associations of obesity and body composition with OSA risk, with child BMI influencing the relationship between OSA and metabolic abnormalities. Future research should explore causative relationships and the enduring impacts of OSA on metabolic health in children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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14 pages, 1572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Accumulative Effect of Multiple Postnatal Risk Factors with the Risk of Being Overweight/Obese in Late Childhood

by Ting Wu, Zijun Liao, Jing Wang and Mengjiao Liu

Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101536 - 20 May 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1896

Abstract

Most past studies focused on the associations of prenatal risk factors with the risks of childhood overweight/obesity. Instead, more postnatal risk factors are modifiable, with less knowledge of their cumulative effects on childhood obesity. We analyzed data of 1869 children in an Australian [...] Read more.

Most past studies focused on the associations of prenatal risk factors with the risks of childhood overweight/obesity. Instead, more postnatal risk factors are modifiable, with less knowledge of their cumulative effects on childhood obesity. We analyzed data of 1869 children in an Australian birth cohort. Key postnatal risk factors included: maternal and paternal overweight/obesity during the child’s infancy, tobacco exposure, low family socioeconomic score, breastfeeding duration < 6 months, early introduction of solid foods, and rapid weight gain during infancy. The risk score was the sum of the number of risk factors. The primary outcome is overweight/obesity in late childhood (11–12 years); secondary outcomes are high-fat mass index (FMI), body fat percentage (BF%), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Poisson regression models were used in the analyses. Children with higher risk scores had higher risks of overweight/obesity (p-for-trends < 0.001). After adjusting covariates, compared with those with 0–1 risk factors, children with 4–6 risk factors had 4.30 (95% confidence interval: 2.98, 6.21) times higher risk of being overweight/obesity; the relative risks for high FMI, BF%, and WHtR were 7.31 (3.97, 13.45), 4.41 (3.00, 6.50), and 6.52 (3.33, 12.74), respectively. Our findings highlighted that multiple postnatal risk factors were associated with increased risks of being overweight/obesity in late childhood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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11 pages, 1228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Correlation Study of Plasma and Breast Milk Retinol Concentrations in Breastfeeding Women in China

by Jing Qin, Yubo Zhou, Hongtian Li, Ying Meng, Sherry A. Tanumihardjo and Jianmeng Liu

Nutrients 2023, 15(24), 5085; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15245085 - 12 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1897

Abstract

Retinol in breast milk is related to plasma concentration among breastfeeding women, but the linear or curvilinear relationships between the two remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 403 Chinese breastfeeding women at 42 ± 7 days postpartum. Plasma and breast milk [...] Read more.

Retinol in breast milk is related to plasma concentration among breastfeeding women, but the linear or curvilinear relationships between the two remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 403 Chinese breastfeeding women at 42 ± 7 days postpartum. Plasma and breast milk samples were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography to determine the concentration of retinol. Partial Spearman correlation and multivariable fractional polynomial regression were used to examine the relationships between the two retinol concentrations and between plasma retinol concentration and milk-to-plasma (M/P) retinol. The median (interquartile range, IQR) of the retinol concentration in the plasma was 1.39 (1.21, 1.63) μmol/L and 1.15 (0.83, 1.49) μmol/L in the breast milk, respectively. The partial correlation coefficient between them was 0.17 (p < 0.01). A linear relationship was observed with an adjusted regression coefficient of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.49). The relationship between the plasma retinol and M/P ratio was nonlinear and segmented at 1.00 μmol/L of plasma retinol. The regression coefficients, below and above the segmented point, were −1.69 (95% CI: −2.75, −0.62) and −0.29 (95% CI: −0.42, −0.16), respectively. Plasma and breast milk retinol were positively correlated, whereas women with a low concentration of plasma retinol showed a stronger capacity of transferring retinol to breast milk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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9 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Infant Nutrition and Other Early Life Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity According to Disability Status

by Melissa K. Blake, Ruixuan Ma, Erika Viana Cardenas, Parisa Varanloo, Yaray Agosto, Carolina Velasquez, Katheryn A. Espina, Joanne Palenzuela, Sarah E. Messiah and Ruby A. Natale

Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4394; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204394 - 17 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2046

Abstract

One in five preschool-aged children in the United States is obese, and children with disabilities are significantly impacted. This study aimed to determine the association between age at solid food initiation and obesity prevalence in preschool-aged children while considering disability status, ethnicity, gestational [...] Read more.

One in five preschool-aged children in the United States is obese, and children with disabilities are significantly impacted. This study aimed to determine the association between age at solid food initiation and obesity prevalence in preschool-aged children while considering disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. Analysis was conducted on a sample of 145 children aged 2 to 5 years who were enrolled in ten childcare centers. Parents completed a survey assessing disability status, race and ethnicity, birth weight, gestational age, and age of solid food initiation. Height and weight were collected concurrently. Multivariable logistic regression models generated the odds of developing obesity based on age at solid food initiation, disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. There was no significant difference in the odds of being obese based on age at solid food introduction. Children with disabilities (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.6, p = 0.01) and children born preterm (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08–0.79, p = 0.03) had significantly lower odds of being obese. Hispanic children (OR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.91–15.32, p = 0.002) and children with higher birth weights (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.17–1.92, p = 0.002) were more likely to be obese. With pediatric obesity rates continuing to rise, these findings can inform future intervention efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

12 pages, 462 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Delayed Introduction of Complementary Foods and Childhood Health Consequences in Exclusively Breastfed Children

by Eun Kyo Ha, Seung Won Lee, Ju Hee Kim, Eun Lee, Hye Ryeong Cha, Bo Eun Han, Jeewon Shin and Man Yong Han

Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3410; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153410 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2155

Abstract

The timing of complementary food (CF) introduction is closely related to childhood health, and it may vary depending on the region, culture, feeding type, or health condition. Despite numerous studies on the benefits of breastfeeding and the optimal timing of CF introduction, there [...] Read more.

The timing of complementary food (CF) introduction is closely related to childhood health, and it may vary depending on the region, culture, feeding type, or health condition. Despite numerous studies on the benefits of breastfeeding and the optimal timing of CF introduction, there have been limited investigations regarding delayed CF introduction in exclusively breastfed children. We compared an exposed group (CF introduction ≥7 months) with a reference group (CF introduction at 4 –< 7 months) regarding hospital admission, disease burden, and growth until age 10. Data from a nationwide population-based cohort study involving children born between 2008 and 2012 in the South Korea were analyzed. The final cohort comprised 206,248 children (165,925 in the exposed group and 40,323 in the reference group). Inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity score matching was used to balance baseline health characteristics in the comparison groups. We estimated the incident risk ratios (IRR) for outcomes using modified Poisson regression and weighted odds ratios (weighted ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multinomial logistic regression. The exposed group was associated with low height-for-age z-score (HAZ) (IRR (95% CI) for −1.64 < HAZ ≤ −1.03: 1.11 (1.08 to 1.14); HAZ ≤ −1.64: 1.21 (1.14 to 1.27)) and frequent (≥6 events) hospitalizations (weighted OR 1.18 (1.09 to 1.29). The rates of hospital admission, death, and specific medical conditions did not differ between groups. However, delaying the introduction of CF until seven months in exclusively breastfed infants was associated with frequent hospitalization events and lower heights. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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12 pages, 2183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maternal High-Fructose Corn Syrup Intake Impairs Corticosterone Clearance by Reducing Renal 11β-Hsd2 Activity via miR-27a-Mediated Mechanism in Rat Offspring

by Yuki Nouchi, Eiji Munetsuna, Hiroya Yamada, Mirai Yamazaki, Yoshitaka Ando, Genki Mizuno, Miyuki Ikeya, Itsuki Kageyama, Takuya Wakasugi, Atsushi Teshigawara, Yuji Hattori, Yoshiki Tsuboi, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Koji Suzuki and Koji Ohashi

Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2122; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092122 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2436

Abstract

We previously reported that maternal fructose consumption increases blood corticosterone levels in rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which maternal high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake increases circulating [...] Read more.

We previously reported that maternal fructose consumption increases blood corticosterone levels in rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which maternal high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake increases circulating GC levels in rat offspring (GC; corticosterone in rodents and cortisol in humans). Female Sprague Dawley rats received HFCS solution during gestation and lactation. The male offspring were fed distilled water from weaning to 60 days of age. We investigated the activities of GC-metabolizing enzymes (11β-Hsd1 and 11β-Hsd2) in various tissues (i.e., liver, kidney, adrenal glands, muscle, and white adipose tissue) and epigenetic modification. 11β-Hsd2 activity decreased in the kidney of the HFCS-fed dams. Moreover, the epigenetic analysis suggested that miR-27a reduced Hsd11b2 mRNA expression in the kidney of offspring. Maternal HFCS-induced elevation of circulating GC levels in offspring may be explained by a decrease in 11β-Hsd2 activity via renal miR-27a expression. The present study may allow us to determine one of the mechanisms of GC elevation in rat offspring that is often observed in the developmental origins of the health and disease (DOHaD) phenomenon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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14 pages, 752 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nutrition and Developmental Origins of Kidney Disease

by Long T. Nguyen, Carol A. Pollock and Sonia Saad

Nutrients 2023, 15(19), 4207; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194207 - 29 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

The developmental programming hypothesis proposes that adverse environmental insults during critical developmental periods increase the risk of diseases later in life. The kidneys are deemed susceptible to such a process, although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Many factors have been reported to contribute [...] Read more.

The developmental programming hypothesis proposes that adverse environmental insults during critical developmental periods increase the risk of diseases later in life. The kidneys are deemed susceptible to such a process, although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Many factors have been reported to contribute to the developmental origin of chronic kidney diseases (CKD), among which peri-gestational nutrition has a central role, affecting kidney development and metabolism. Physiologically, the link between malnutrition, reduced glomerular numbers, and increased blood pressure is key in the developmental programming of CKD. However, recent studies regarding oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic modifications, and metabolic changes have revealed potential novel pathways for therapeutic intervention. This review will discuss the role of imbalanced nutrition in the development of CKD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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17 pages, 2120 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review on Maternal and Infant Microbiota and Their Implications for the Prevention and Treatment of Allergic Diseases

by Yifan Wu, Gongsheng Zhang, Yucong Wang, Xin Wei, Huanhuan Liu, Lili Zhang and Lanwei Zhang

Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2483; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112483 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 3285

Abstract

Allergic diseases, which are closely related to the composition and metabolism of maternal and infant flora, are prevalent in infants worldwide. The mother’s breast milk, intestinal, and vaginal flora directly or indirectly influence the development of the infant’s immune system from pregnancy to [...] Read more.

Allergic diseases, which are closely related to the composition and metabolism of maternal and infant flora, are prevalent in infants worldwide. The mother’s breast milk, intestinal, and vaginal flora directly or indirectly influence the development of the infant’s immune system from pregnancy to lactation, and the compositional and functional alterations of maternal flora are associated with allergic diseases in infants. Meanwhile, the infant’s own flora, represented by the intestinal flora, indicates and regulates the occurrence of allergic diseases and is altered with the intervention of allergic diseases. By searching and selecting relevant literature in PubMed from 2010 to 2023, the mechanisms of allergy development in infants and the links between maternal and infant flora and infant allergic diseases are reviewed, including the effects of flora composition and its consequences on infant metabolism. The critical role of maternal and infant flora in allergic diseases has provided a window for probiotics as a microbial therapy. Therefore, the uses and mechanisms by which probiotics, such as lactic acid bacteria, can help to improve the homeostasis of both the mother and the infant, and thereby treat allergies, are also described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)

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