Distinct maternal amino acids and oxylipins predict infant fat mass and fat-free mass indices

Abstract

Interested in maternal determinants of infant fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI), considered as predictors for later development of obesity, we analysed amino acids (AA) and oxylipins in maternal serum and breast milk (BM). FMI and FFMI were calculated in 47 term infants aged 4 months (T4). Serum AA were analysed in pregnancy (T1, T2) and 6–8 weeks postpartum (T3). At T3, AA and oxylipins were analysed in BM. Biomarker-index-associations were identified by regression analysis. Infant FMI (4.1 ± 1.31 kg/m²; MW ± SD) was predicted by T2 proline (R² adj.: 7.6%, p = .036) and T3 BM 11-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic-acid (11-HETE) and 13-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic-acid (13-HDHA; together:35.5% R² adj., p < .001). Maternal peripartum antibiotics (AB) emerged as confounders (+AB: 23.5% higher FMI; p = .025). Infant FFMI (12.1 ± 1.19 kg/m²; MW ± SD) was predicted by histidine (R² adj.: 14.5%, p < .001) and 17-HDHA (BM, R² adj.:19.3%, p < .001), determined at T3. Confirmed in a larger cohort, the parameters could elucidate connections between maternal metabolic status, nutrition, and infant body development.

Keywords:

• Infant body composition
• oxylipins
• amino acids
• fat mass index
• maternal biomarkers

Authors’ contributions

MR, BFN, MvK, AB, SM, SH, and EP designed the study; AR, NS, IW, EH, WG, and MP conducted the research; BM, MRo, NS, and EH analysed the biomarkers; KE, AGS, MR, and MW performed the statistical analysis; MR, MW, and MvK wrote the paper; all authors approved and critically reviewed the paper.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank all the women volunteering in the study for their participation, time, and cooperation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to data security issues (the informed consent did not include this option) but are available from the corresponding author(s) on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft, FFG) under grant no. [839098].