Lowering protein in infant foods
In a pan-European collaboration, scientists enrolled more than 1,000 formula-fed infants, taking stock of their weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and other anthropometric criteria. Five European countries were chosen because they differ significantly in the prevalence of obesity as well as the traditional nutritional habits of children. The babies were fed according to either a higher or lower protein-based formula and measured at intervals of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. To develop an accurate interpretive basis, anthropometric criteria were converted into standard deviation scores based on WHO growth standards. Moreover, the primary hypothesis under investigation was whether protein intake, if exceeding metabolic needs, could potentially result in a higher risk of obesity in later years. This is based on the premise that when protein intake exceeds metabolic needs, greater insulin and insulin-like growth factor I are secreted. To conduct the test effectively, three primary groups were followed. A reference group of breast fed infants, along with the two formula groups of high and low protein content. Overall, results of the study confirmed the relationship of high protein content to obesity, showing that even as early as 3, 6 or 12 months, there were marked differences. For example, at time of birth there were no significant differences between groups with relation to weight-linked parameters. Yet at the age of 12 months, the higher protein fed group showed significant weight gains but no significant differences in body length. As regards the lower protein fed group, weight, BMI parameters and endocrine markers were all lower than those of the high protein group. These results and others support the hypothesis therefore that reducing the high protein level in infant food would reduce the risk of obesity in later years.