The influence of habitual protein intake in early childhood on BMI and age at adiposity rebound: results from the DONALD Study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the influence of habitual protein intake in early childhood on age and body mass index (BMI) at adiposity rebound (AR), a potential critical period for the development of obesity.


METHODS
A total of 313 children (161 boys, 152 girls) participating in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study.


METHODS
Weighted summary indices were created reflecting habitual, energy-adjusted protein intake (expressed as % of energy) and protein intake per kg reference body weight per day (g/kg RBW/day) between the age of 12 and 24 months. Body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS), age at AR and covariates (mother's BMI, gestational age, breastfeeding and siblings) were included in the final models.


RESULTS
After adjusting for potential confounders, girls in the highest tertile (T3) of habitual energy-adjusted protein intake had a significantly higher BMI-SDS at AR than those in T1 (T1: -0.61 (95% CI: -0.90; -0.31), T2: -0.49 (-0.79; -0.20), T3: -0.08 (-0.36; 0.20), P for difference=0.01). A comparable association existed with habitual protein intake expressed as g/kg RBW/day (T1: -0.64 (-0.93; -0.36), T2: -0.22 (-0.52; 0.09), T3: -0.25 (-0.54; 0.04), P=0.04). In boys, there were no differences in BMI-SDS at AR between tertiles of habitual protein intake (% of energy or g/kg RBW/day) (P>0.05). Boys in the lowest tertile of habitual energy-adjusted protein intake tended to experience a later AR (T1: 6.0 (5.6; 6.4), T2: 5.5 (5.1; 5.9), T3: 5.4 (5.0; 5.9) years, P=0.07). But neither in girls nor in boys was age at AR significantly different between tertiles of habitual protein intake (% of energy or g/kg RBW/day) (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A higher habitual protein intake between the age of 12 and 24 months was associated with a higher BMI-SDS at AR in girls, but not in boys. There was no consistent relation between habitual protein intake in early childhood and timing of AR.
Günther
A L B
AL
Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Heinstueck 11, Dortmund, Germany. guenther@fke-do.de
Buyken
A E
AE
Kroke
A
A
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D004044:Dietary Proteins