Early determinants of adult metabolic regulation: effects of infant nutrition on adult lipid and lipoprotein metabolism

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. S31 - S40
• Main Authors: McGill, H.C. Jr. (Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX.), Mott, G.E, Lewis, D.S, McMahan, C.A, Jackson, E.M
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-1996; International Life Sciences Institute
• Subjects: ACIDE GRAS; ACIDOS GRASOS; Adult; ALIMENTACION INFANTIL; ALIMENTATION DU NOURRISSON; Animals; ARTERIOSCLEROSE; ARTERIOSCLEROSIS; BEBES; Biological and medical sciences; CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Child; Child, Preschool; CHOLESTEROL; COLESTEROL; CORPS GRAS; DIET; DIETA; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; ENFANT EN BAS AGE; ENFERMEDADES CARDIOVASCULARES; FATS; FATTY ACIDS; Female; FOOD INTAKE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GRASAS; HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN; HUMAN NUTRITION; Humans; Infant; INFANT FEEDING; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; INFANTS; INGESTION DE ALIMENTOS; INGESTION DE NUTRIENTES; INGESTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; LIPID METABOLISM; Lipids - blood; Lipids. Glycolipids; LIPOPROTEINAS; LIPOPROTEINE; LIPOPROTEINS; Lipoproteins - blood; LITERATURE REVIEWS; LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN; MALADIE CARDIOVASCULAIRE; Male; METABOLISME DES LIPIDES; METABOLISMO DE LIPIDOS; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; NUTRICION HUMANA; NUTRIENT INTAKE; NUTRITION HUMAINE; OVERWEIGHT; Papio; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (HOMME); REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; RIESGO; RISK; RISQUE; SOBREPESO; SURPOIDS; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Obesity; Sex; Monkey; Cardiovascular disease; Lipids; Review; Lipoprotein; Metabolism; Postnatal development; Body composition; Feeding; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Adult animal; Risk factor; Primates; Adult; Nutrient; Hormonal investigation
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.1996.tb03868.x

In a series of experiments over the past 20 years, we have demonstrated long-term deferred effects of infant nutrition, particularly breast- as compared with formula-feeding and overfeeding as compared with normal or underfeeding, on serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations, adiposity, and atherosclerosis in the baboon, a large nonhuman primate. Low HDL-cholesterol levels and obesity are associated with accelerated progression of atherosclerosis and with increased risk of coronary heart disease in humans. We have observed other deferred effects of infant nutrition on bile acid metabolism, enzyme activities, and water and electrolyte balance, some of which may be physiologically related to HDL-cholesterol levels or to adiposity. The occurrence of these deferred effects suggests that infant nutrition may program other metabolic systems for life, and that these effects may contribute to other chronic diseases of adults. Although our understanding of the mechanisms by which infant diet regimens affect adult metabolism is meager, it is important to identify these mechanisms because they are likely to provide valuable clues to the causes and ultimately may contribute to the long-range prevention of those diseases.