MedPath

The Effects of Early Complementary Feeding on Growth, Neurodevelopment, Sleep and Gut Health

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Linear Growth
Neurodevelopment
Gut Microbiome
Interventions
Other: Baby Foods
Other: Foods from the home
Registration Number
NCT04137445
Lead Sponsor
University of Colorado, Denver
Brief Summary

The overall objective of this project is to understand how consuming a prescribed diet of different infant foods (which may contain cereals,fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy) during the time of early complementary feeding (\~5 to 12 months) in breastfed infants has on growth trajectories, neurodevelopment and sleep patterns in relation to gut microbiota, compared with a traditional diet that is usually provided in the home to infants.

The three primary aims include:

Aim 1: Identify the effects that the prescribed early complementary feeding specific study diet has on growth trajectories in breastfed infants.

Aim 2: Identify whether the relationship between the prescribed early complementary feeding specific study diet and growth is mediated by gut microbiota.

Aim 3: Characterize infant neurodevelopment and sleep patterns.

Detailed Description

Some details are intentionally left to out to preserve the scientific integrity of the study, and they will be included in the record after the study is completed.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Full term: gestational age > 37 weeks
  • Exclusively breastfed (< 2 weeks of cumulative formula exposure). Any formula consumption on a given day is considered one day of formula exposure. During the intervention, if the participant receives more than 50% of the liquid diet from infant formula, s/he will be excluded from the study.
  • Maternal conditions such as gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, multiple pregnancies are acceptable.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Large for gestational age or small for gestational age
  • Antibiotic use from birth to the time of enrollment
  • Documented food allergies
  • Previous complementary food exposure
  • Conditions that would affect protein metabolism or growth

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Study Provided DietBaby FoodsA group of complementary foods provided to participants by researchers.
Traditional DietFoods from the homeNo study foods provided to participants by researchers. Participants will eat a typical diet provided by caregivers.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
WeightOver 6 months

Measured in kg

LengthOver 6 months

Measured in cm

Gut MicrobiomeOver 6 months

Gut microbiota structure by 16S sequencing

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
NeurodevelopmentAt 12 months of age

Fine motor skills and cognition measured by the Bayley - III

Serum IGFBP-3 (Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3)Over 6 months

Measured in ng/mL

Total protein in breast milkOver 6 months

Measured in g/100 mL

Body compositionOver 6 months

Body fat mass, fat-free mass measured by stable isotopes

Duration of sleepOver 6 months

Measured in minutes per 24 hours by the MicroMini-Motionlogger actigraph

Serum IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor1/ somatomedin C)Over 6 months

Measured in ng/mL

Dietary intakeOver 6 months

3 day dietary recall with results generated by NDSR software

Serum c-reactive protein (CRP-hs)Over 6 months

Measured in mg/L

Total calories in breast milkOver 6 months

Measured in kcal/100 mL

Total carbohydrates in breast milkOver 6 months

Measured in g/100 mL

Total fat in breast milkOver 6 months

Measured in g/100 mL

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

🇺🇸

Aurora, Colorado, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath