(OR18-06-26) Infant Fat Distribution Using Ultrasound in a Randomized Controlled Trial With Different Protein-Rich Foods

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of different protein-rich foods on fat distribution in infants participating in a randomized controlled feeding trial, using a novel ultrasound approach.

Methods: In a randomized controlled feeding trial (the MINT study), healthy infants in Denver (both breastfed and formula-fed) were randomized to one of four feeding groups with the primary protein source of meat, dairy, plant, or ad libitum from 5 to 12 months of age. A nested subgroup of 44 infants completed adiposity assessments at the Children’s Hospital Colorado at 5- and 12 months of age using ultrasound. Outcomes include adiposity (mm) for abdominal subcutaneous fat, preperitoneal fat, visceral fat, thigh subcutaneous fat, and triceps subcutaneous fat changes from 5 to 12 months. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis was used to evaluate potential group differences at 5 and 12 months.

Results: There were no group differences in adiposity (mm) at any site at 5 months (baseline). At 12 months, a significant group difference was observed for abdominal subcutaneous (P=0.026) and visceral fat (P=0.010). In particular, abdominal subcutaneous fat (mm) was lowest in the plant group (2.01 ± 0.69), followed by dairy (3.31 ± 2.16), meat (3.83 ± 1.73) and ad libitum (3.97 ± 1.50). Visceral fat (mm) was lowest in the meat group (19.20 ± 8.39), followed by ad libitum (23.95 ± 8.67), plant (24.04 ± 9.34) and dairy (32.33 ± 11.33).

Conclusions: Consumption of complementary diets with different protein-rich foods affects visceral fat and subcutaneous fat as measured with ultrasound and these differences were primarily in the abdominal region (subcutaneous and visceral), which may differentially impact metabolic health.

Funding Sources: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Dairy Council, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and CCTSI.