Animal protein intake at 12 months is associated with growth factors at the age of six.
OBJECTIVE
To study the associations between protein intake from different sources with anthropometry and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in infancy and childhood.


METHODS
Children (n = 199) born in Iceland were followed up to six years of age. Their intake of various animal proteins and vegetable protein was calculated from weighed food records at 12 months and 6 years. Information about their weight and height at birth, 12 and 18 months, and 6 years was gathered. Serum IGF-1 was measured at 12 months and 6 years.


RESULTS
At the age of six, children in the highest quartile for animal protein intake at 12 months (≥12.2% of total energy) had 0.8 kg/m(2) (95% CI = 0.1, 1.5) higher body mass index (BMI) than children in the lowest quartile (<7.6% of total energy). They were also heavier and longer in infancy and childhood. At 12 months, dairy protein intake as a percentage of total energy was associated with IGF-1 in six-year-old girls, β = 5.4 μg/L (95% CI = 2.5, 8.2).


CONCLUSIONS
High animal protein intake in infancy, but not vegetable protein intake, was associated with accelerated growth and higher BMI in childhood. Dairy protein intake in infancy may be positively associated with linear growth and also with IGF-1 in six-year-old girls.
Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali University Hospital & Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Birna
B
Thorisdottir
Ingibjorg
I
Gunnarsdottir
Gestur Ingvi
GI
Palsson
Thorhallur Ingi
TI
Halldorsson
Inga
I
Thorsdottir
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Animal protein; Body mass index; Critical periods; Dairy protein; Insulin-like growth factor 1