Abstract
Background
Human milk is rich in osteopontin (OPN), which has immunomodulatory functions.
Methods
In a randomized controlled trial, standard formula (SF) and the same formula with 65 mg of OPN/L (F65) or 130 mg of OPN/L (F130), representing ~50 and 100% of the OPN concentration in human milk, were compared. We examined frequencies and composition of peripheral blood immune cells by four-color immunoflow cytometry of formula-fed infants at ages 1, 4, and 6 months, and compared them with a breastfed (BF) reference group.
Results
The F130 group had increased T-cell proportions compared with the SF (P=0.036, average effect size 0.51) and F65 groups (P=0.008, average effect size 0.65). Compared with the BF group, the monocyte proportions were increased in the F65 (P=0.001, average effect size 0.59) and F130 (P=0.006, average effect size 0.50) groups, but were comparable among the formula groups.
Conclusion
OPN in an infant formula at a concentration close to that of human milk increased the proportion of circulating T cells compared with both SF and formula with added OPN at ~50% of the concentration in human milk. This suggests that OPN may favorably influence immune ontogeny in infancy and that the effects appear to be dose-dependent.
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Acknowledgements
Frida Karlsson Videhult is acknowledged for assistance with the figures. Role of the sponsor: the sponsor did not participate in the conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation of the manuscript. A.S.K. was involved in the design of the study, as well as review and approval of the manuscript.
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C.E.W., S.M.D., Y.P., and B.L. have received research support from Arla Food Ingredients. A.S.K. is employed by Arla Food Ingredients.
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The study was supported by Arla Food Ingredients.
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West, C., Kvistgaard, A., Peerson, J. et al. Effects of osteopontin-enriched formula on lymphocyte subsets in the first 6 months of life: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Res 82, 63–71 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2017.77
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2017.77
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