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Nutrients
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Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life...
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Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 April 2024 | Viewed by 8974

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yubo Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
Interests: reproductive and child health; pregnancy nutrition; perinatal factor; maternal and child health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jianmeng Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
Interests: reproductive; child health; perinatal epidemiology; maternal healthcare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrition in early life is crucial to short- and long-term health, including physical, motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Our current understanding of maternal nutrition during pregnancy, infant nutrition, and health and development through the life course is somewhat insufficient and remains a challenge for scientists.

This Special Issue on “Nutrition in Early-Life and Its Impact through the Life Course” is now inviting submissions of manuscripts, either original research or reviews, with an emphasis on maternal nutrition, infant nutrition, and their impacts on short- and long-term health and development. Biological mechanisms underlying the impacts will be considered as well.

Dr. Yubo Zhou
Prof. Dr. Jianmeng Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • early life
  • infant nutrition
  • maternal nutrition
  • short- and long-term health
  • dietary intervention

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1228 KiB  
Article
A Correlation Study of Plasma and Breast Milk Retinol Concentrations in Breastfeeding Women in China
by Jing Qin, Yubo Zhou, Hongtian Li, Ying Meng, Sherry A. Tanumihardjo and Jianmeng Liu
Nutrients 2023, 15(24), 5085; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15245085 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 876
Abstract
Retinol in breast milk is related to plasma concentration among breastfeeding women, but the linear or curvilinear relationships between the two remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 403 Chinese breastfeeding women at 42 ± 7 days postpartum. Plasma and breast milk [...] Read more.
Retinol in breast milk is related to plasma concentration among breastfeeding women, but the linear or curvilinear relationships between the two remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 403 Chinese breastfeeding women at 42 ± 7 days postpartum. Plasma and breast milk samples were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography to determine the concentration of retinol. Partial Spearman correlation and multivariable fractional polynomial regression were used to examine the relationships between the two retinol concentrations and between plasma retinol concentration and milk-to-plasma (M/P) retinol. The median (interquartile range, IQR) of the retinol concentration in the plasma was 1.39 (1.21, 1.63) μmol/L and 1.15 (0.83, 1.49) μmol/L in the breast milk, respectively. The partial correlation coefficient between them was 0.17 (p < 0.01). A linear relationship was observed with an adjusted regression coefficient of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.49). The relationship between the plasma retinol and M/P ratio was nonlinear and segmented at 1.00 μmol/L of plasma retinol. The regression coefficients, below and above the segmented point, were −1.69 (95% CI: −2.75, −0.62) and −0.29 (95% CI: −0.42, −0.16), respectively. Plasma and breast milk retinol were positively correlated, whereas women with a low concentration of plasma retinol showed a stronger capacity of transferring retinol to breast milk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)
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9 pages, 268 KiB  
Article
Infant Nutrition and Other Early Life Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity According to Disability Status
by Melissa K. Blake, Ruixuan Ma, Erika Viana Cardenas, Parisa Varanloo, Yaray Agosto, Carolina Velasquez, Katheryn A. Espina, Joanne Palenzuela, Sarah E. Messiah and Ruby A. Natale
Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4394; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204394 - 17 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1090
Abstract
One in five preschool-aged children in the United States is obese, and children with disabilities are significantly impacted. This study aimed to determine the association between age at solid food initiation and obesity prevalence in preschool-aged children while considering disability status, ethnicity, gestational [...] Read more.
One in five preschool-aged children in the United States is obese, and children with disabilities are significantly impacted. This study aimed to determine the association between age at solid food initiation and obesity prevalence in preschool-aged children while considering disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. Analysis was conducted on a sample of 145 children aged 2 to 5 years who were enrolled in ten childcare centers. Parents completed a survey assessing disability status, race and ethnicity, birth weight, gestational age, and age of solid food initiation. Height and weight were collected concurrently. Multivariable logistic regression models generated the odds of developing obesity based on age at solid food initiation, disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. There was no significant difference in the odds of being obese based on age at solid food introduction. Children with disabilities (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.6, p = 0.01) and children born preterm (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08–0.79, p = 0.03) had significantly lower odds of being obese. Hispanic children (OR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.91–15.32, p = 0.002) and children with higher birth weights (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.17–1.92, p = 0.002) were more likely to be obese. With pediatric obesity rates continuing to rise, these findings can inform future intervention efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)
12 pages, 462 KiB  
Article
Associations between Delayed Introduction of Complementary Foods and Childhood Health Consequences in Exclusively Breastfed Children
by Eun Kyo Ha, Seung Won Lee, Ju Hee Kim, Eun Lee, Hye Ryeong Cha, Bo Eun Han, Jeewon Shin and Man Yong Han
Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3410; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153410 - 31 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1069
Abstract
The timing of complementary food (CF) introduction is closely related to childhood health, and it may vary depending on the region, culture, feeding type, or health condition. Despite numerous studies on the benefits of breastfeeding and the optimal timing of CF introduction, there [...] Read more.
The timing of complementary food (CF) introduction is closely related to childhood health, and it may vary depending on the region, culture, feeding type, or health condition. Despite numerous studies on the benefits of breastfeeding and the optimal timing of CF introduction, there have been limited investigations regarding delayed CF introduction in exclusively breastfed children. We compared an exposed group (CF introduction ≥7 months) with a reference group (CF introduction at 4 –< 7 months) regarding hospital admission, disease burden, and growth until age 10. Data from a nationwide population-based cohort study involving children born between 2008 and 2012 in the South Korea were analyzed. The final cohort comprised 206,248 children (165,925 in the exposed group and 40,323 in the reference group). Inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity score matching was used to balance baseline health characteristics in the comparison groups. We estimated the incident risk ratios (IRR) for outcomes using modified Poisson regression and weighted odds ratios (weighted ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multinomial logistic regression. The exposed group was associated with low height-for-age z-score (HAZ) (IRR (95% CI) for −1.64 < HAZ ≤ −1.03: 1.11 (1.08 to 1.14); HAZ ≤ −1.64: 1.21 (1.14 to 1.27)) and frequent (≥6 events) hospitalizations (weighted OR 1.18 (1.09 to 1.29). The rates of hospital admission, death, and specific medical conditions did not differ between groups. However, delaying the introduction of CF until seven months in exclusively breastfed infants was associated with frequent hospitalization events and lower heights. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)
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12 pages, 2183 KiB  
Article
Maternal High-Fructose Corn Syrup Intake Impairs Corticosterone Clearance by Reducing Renal 11β-Hsd2 Activity via miR-27a-Mediated Mechanism in Rat Offspring
by Yuki Nouchi, Eiji Munetsuna, Hiroya Yamada, Mirai Yamazaki, Yoshitaka Ando, Genki Mizuno, Miyuki Ikeya, Itsuki Kageyama, Takuya Wakasugi, Atsushi Teshigawara, Yuji Hattori, Yoshiki Tsuboi, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Koji Suzuki and Koji Ohashi
Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2122; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092122 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
We previously reported that maternal fructose consumption increases blood corticosterone levels in rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which maternal high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake increases circulating [...] Read more.
We previously reported that maternal fructose consumption increases blood corticosterone levels in rat offspring. However, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which maternal high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake increases circulating GC levels in rat offspring (GC; corticosterone in rodents and cortisol in humans). Female Sprague Dawley rats received HFCS solution during gestation and lactation. The male offspring were fed distilled water from weaning to 60 days of age. We investigated the activities of GC-metabolizing enzymes (11β-Hsd1 and 11β-Hsd2) in various tissues (i.e., liver, kidney, adrenal glands, muscle, and white adipose tissue) and epigenetic modification. 11β-Hsd2 activity decreased in the kidney of the HFCS-fed dams. Moreover, the epigenetic analysis suggested that miR-27a reduced Hsd11b2 mRNA expression in the kidney of offspring. Maternal HFCS-induced elevation of circulating GC levels in offspring may be explained by a decrease in 11β-Hsd2 activity via renal miR-27a expression. The present study may allow us to determine one of the mechanisms of GC elevation in rat offspring that is often observed in the developmental origins of the health and disease (DOHaD) phenomenon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)
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Review

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14 pages, 752 KiB  
Review
Nutrition and Developmental Origins of Kidney Disease
by Long T. Nguyen, Carol A. Pollock and Sonia Saad
Nutrients 2023, 15(19), 4207; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194207 - 29 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1618
Abstract
The developmental programming hypothesis proposes that adverse environmental insults during critical developmental periods increase the risk of diseases later in life. The kidneys are deemed susceptible to such a process, although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Many factors have been reported to contribute [...] Read more.
The developmental programming hypothesis proposes that adverse environmental insults during critical developmental periods increase the risk of diseases later in life. The kidneys are deemed susceptible to such a process, although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Many factors have been reported to contribute to the developmental origin of chronic kidney diseases (CKD), among which peri-gestational nutrition has a central role, affecting kidney development and metabolism. Physiologically, the link between malnutrition, reduced glomerular numbers, and increased blood pressure is key in the developmental programming of CKD. However, recent studies regarding oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic modifications, and metabolic changes have revealed potential novel pathways for therapeutic intervention. This review will discuss the role of imbalanced nutrition in the development of CKD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)
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17 pages, 2120 KiB  
Review
A Review on Maternal and Infant Microbiota and Their Implications for the Prevention and Treatment of Allergic Diseases
by Yifan Wu, Gongsheng Zhang, Yucong Wang, Xin Wei, Huanhuan Liu, Lili Zhang and Lanwei Zhang
Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2483; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112483 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 2060
Abstract
Allergic diseases, which are closely related to the composition and metabolism of maternal and infant flora, are prevalent in infants worldwide. The mother’s breast milk, intestinal, and vaginal flora directly or indirectly influence the development of the infant’s immune system from pregnancy to [...] Read more.
Allergic diseases, which are closely related to the composition and metabolism of maternal and infant flora, are prevalent in infants worldwide. The mother’s breast milk, intestinal, and vaginal flora directly or indirectly influence the development of the infant’s immune system from pregnancy to lactation, and the compositional and functional alterations of maternal flora are associated with allergic diseases in infants. Meanwhile, the infant’s own flora, represented by the intestinal flora, indicates and regulates the occurrence of allergic diseases and is altered with the intervention of allergic diseases. By searching and selecting relevant literature in PubMed from 2010 to 2023, the mechanisms of allergy development in infants and the links between maternal and infant flora and infant allergic diseases are reviewed, including the effects of flora composition and its consequences on infant metabolism. The critical role of maternal and infant flora in allergic diseases has provided a window for probiotics as a microbial therapy. Therefore, the uses and mechanisms by which probiotics, such as lactic acid bacteria, can help to improve the homeostasis of both the mother and the infant, and thereby treat allergies, are also described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Early Life and Its Impact through the Life Course)
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