Impact of probiotics during weaning on the metabolic and inflammatory profile: follow-up at school age

Abstract

We hypothesised that feeding the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 (LF19) (dep. nr LMG P-17806) during weaning would program the metabolic and inflammatory profile and studied its association with previously assessed body composition. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 179 infants were randomised to daily feeding of cereals with or without LF19 10⁸ CFU from 4 to 13 months of age. At age 8–9 years, 120 children were re-assessed. Using high-sensitivity multiplex immunoassay technology and ELISA, we found that overweight/obese children had increased plasma C-peptide, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, leptin and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) after overnight fasting compared with normal weight children, independently of LF19. After excluding the obese, leptin and hsCRP were still increased, revealing an aberrant metabolic and inflammatory state already in overweight, pre-pubertal children. Higher body mass index z-score, sagittal abdominal diameter, truncal and total body fat % were associated with an aberrant metabolic and inflammatory profile, emphasising the need for early prevention strategies although no programming effect of LF19 was observed.

• Body composition
• children
• inflammation
• Lactobacillus paracasei ssp paracasei F19
• metabolism
• microbiota

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the participating families; research nurses Åsa Sundström for excellent assistance in the follow-up clinics; Lena Uddståhl for assisting with the DEXA scans; medical laboratory scientist Catarina Lundell for running the hsCRP ELISA analyses. Arla Foods AB personnel were involved in discussions regarding study design. Sponsors had no involvement in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in writing the report or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Declaration of interest

The present study was supported by Arla Foods AB, Denmark; through regional agreement between Umeå University and Västerbotten county council on cooperation in the field of Medicine; European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement no. 222720; Ekhaga and Oskar Foundations; the Swedish Society of Medical Research; Stiftelsen Samariten; Insamlingsstiftelsen at Umeå University and the Swedish Nutrition Foundation. Dr. West has received funding and speaker honoraria from Arla Foods; speaker honoraria and travel assistance to attend conferences from Nestlé Nutrition. Prof Hernell is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Semper and Hero, and has received funding from Semper AB and Arla Foods. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.