title: Low-protein formula slows weight gain in infants of overweight mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infant formulas provide more protein than breast milk. High protein intakes, as well as maternal obesity, are risk factors for later obesity. The present study tested whether a formula with lower protein content slows weight gain of infants of overweight mothers (body mass index [BMI] >25 kg/m).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized double-blind study infants of overweight mothers received from 3 months an experimental (EXPL) formula with 1.65 g of protein/100 kcal (62.8 kcal/100 mL) and containing probiotics, or a control (CTRL) formula with 2.7 g of protein/100 kcal (65.6 kcal/100 mL). Breast-fed infants were studied concurrently. Primary assessment was between 3 and 6 months, although formulas were fed until 12 months. Biomarkers of protein metabolism (blood urea nitrogen, insulin growth factor-1, insulinogenic amino acids) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants fed the low-protein EXPL formula gained less weight between 3 and 6 months (-1.77 g/day, P=0.024) than infants fed the CTRL formula. In the subgroup of infants of mothers with BMI>30 kg/m the difference was -4.21 g/day (P=0.017). Weight (P=0.011) and BMI (P=0.027) of EXPL infants remained lower than that of CTRL infants until 2 years but were similar to that of breast-fed infants. Blood urea nitrogen, insulin growth factor-1, and insulinogenic amino acids at 6 months were significantly lower in EXPL compared with CTRL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low-protein formula with probiotics slowed weight gain between 3 and 6 months in infants of overweight mothers. Weight gain and biomarkers were more like those of breast-fed infants.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Basic Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile †Nestlé Nutrition Institute, Vevey, Switzerland ‡Nestlé R&D, Nestec Ltd, Vevey, Switzerland §Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inostroza
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haschke
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steenhout
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grathwohl
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Ekhard E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins; C583557:IGF1 protein, human; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I