Metabolomics in early life and the association with body composition at age 2 years. Issue 3 (13th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Beijsterveldt, Inge A.L.P.; Snowden, Stuart G.; Myers, Pernille Neve; de Fluiter, Kirsten S.; van de Heijning, Bert; Brix, Susanne; Ong, Ken K.; Dunger, David B.; Hokken‐Koelega, Anita C.S.; Koulman, Albert
• Is Part Of: Pediatric obesity. Volume 17:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-10-13
• Subjects: adiposity -- body composition -- infants -- metabolomics -- skinfolds; Obesity in children -- Periodicals; Obesity in adolescence -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; Overweight children -- Periodicals; 618.92398
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12859
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-7174

Abstract

Summary: Background and Objectives: Early life is a critical window for adiposity programming. Metabolic‐profile in early life may reflect this programming and correlate with later life adiposity. We investigated if metabolic‐profile at 3 months of age is predictive for body composition at 2 years and if there are differences between boys and girls and between infant feeding types. Methods: In 318 healthy term‐born infants, we determined body composition with skinfold measurements and abdominal ultrasound at 3 months and 2 years of age. High‐throughput‐metabolic‐profiling was performed on 3‐month‐blood‐samples. Using random‐forest‐machine‐learning‐models, we studied if the metabolic‐profile at 3 months can predict body composition outcomes at 2 years of age. Results: Plasma metabolite‐profile at 3 months was found to predict body composition at 2 years, based on truncal: peripheral‐fat‐skinfold‐ratio (T:P‐ratio), with a predictive value of 75.8%, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 50%. Predictive value was higher in boys (Q 2 = 0.322) than girls (Q 2 = 0.117). Of the 15 metabolite variables most strongly associated with T:P‐ratio, 11 were also associated with visceral fat at 2 years of age. Conclusion: Several plasma metabolites (LysoPC(22:2), dimethylarginine and others) at 3 months associate with body composition outcome at 2 years. These results highlight the importance of the first months of life for adiposity programming.