Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that plasma thyroid hormone levels in infant baboons are differentially affected by breast-feeding and nursery rearing. Infant baboons were breast-fed (n = 17), or fed formulas with a high polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio (P/S) (n = 13), or a low P/S formula (n = 14). Plasma total triiodothyronine (T3) and free T3 (1T3) concentrations increased from 4 to 14 weeks of age in infants fed either formula, but decreased in breast-fed infants. At 9 and 14 weeks of age, infants fed the formulas averaged 31% higher T3 and 53% higher (T3 concentrations compared with breast-fed infants. Although T3 concentrations of the high P/S formula group compared with the low P/S formula group were not different at any single age, from 4 to 14 weeks the T3 averaged 19% higher in the high P/S formula group. Plasma total thyroxine (T4) or free T4 (fT4) concentrations were not significantly different among the diet groups during the preweaning period. In summary, formula-fed infants maintained higher plasma T3 and 1T3 levels compared with breast-fed infants in the late preweaning period.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 327-335 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Neonatology |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1993 |
Keywords
- Baboons
- Breast-feeding
- Infants
- Lipoproteins
- Nursery rearing
- Thyroid hormones
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental Biology