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Biomedical subjects

C Agostoni

Publications and source records attributed to C Agostoni.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Growth in the first two years of uninfected children born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the growth curves of uninfected infants born to type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) seropositive mothers by means of standardised anthropometric indices. METHODS: The z scores (National Center for Health Statistics-World Health Organization data) of weight for age, length for age, and weight for length of 92 uninfected full term infants born to HIV positive mothers were compared with those of 65 bottle fed full term infants born to healthy mothers at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and (in a subgroup) 24 months of age. Confounders were also recorded. RESULTS: The study population had a lower length for age z score at birth (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.02, -0.58) and higher weight for length z scores at 1 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.63), 2 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.66), and 3 (95% CI: 0.0, 0.48) months compared with the reference group. After a temporary recovery, the length for age z score difference increased progressively from the 4th month onwards and was significant at 18 (95% CI: -0.31, -1.05) and 24 (95% CI: -0.02, -0.91) months. The difference between the length for age z scores at birth was associated with maternal covariates, but the between group difference at 18 months was apparent even after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSION: Uninfected infants born to HIV positive mothers have a rapid weight gain immediately after birth. A decrease in length progression during the second year might be a result of the social risk connected with the family environment and an unfavourable programming related to the maternal HIV status.

Body Height↗
PubMed1998

Plasma arachidonic acid and serum thromboxane B2 concentrations in phenylketonuric children are correlated with dietary compliance.

Phenylketonurics display lower arachidonic acid levels in plasma lipids, reflecting the lower intake due to the dietary treatment poor in phenylalanine-rich animal foods. Plasma arachidonic acid levels and serum thromboxane B2 concentrations have been measured in 13 treated phenylketonuric children and compared with those of 12 healthy controls. A direct relationship between plasma arachidonic acid and thromboxane B2 concentrations has been observed only in phenylketonurics, whose plasma arachidonic acid status correlated negatively with their dietary compliance. These results suggest that the low consumption of animal fats may contribute to modulate the production of arachidonic acid-derived platelet eicosanoids.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Plasma arachidonic acid and serum thromboxane B2 concentrations in phenylketonuric children negatively correlate with dietary compliance.

The study addresses the relationship of plasma arachidonic acid and thromboxane production with the dietary compliance in treated phenylketonuric patients, whose vegan-like dietary pattern makes them a useful model to evaluate the effects of the near-total avoidance of animal fats. Thirteen treated phenylketonuric children were compared with twelve healthy controls for arachidonic acid intake, plasma fatty acids and platelet thromboxane B2 production, assessed as accumulation of this eicosanoid in serum. The calculated intake of arachidonic acid was lower in phenylketonurics than in controls and this was associated with lower levels in plasma lipids. Plasma arachidonic acid concentrations and serum thromboxane B2 levels correlated with the last 12 months phenylalanine levels, taken as negative indicator of dietary compliance. A direct relationship between plasma arachidonic acid concentration and thromboxane B2 production was observed only in phenylketonuric patients (r = 0.74, P = 0.01). While well-compliant PKU subjects have low arachidonic acid and thromboxane concentrations in plasma, the low compliance with animal food avoidance, evoking higher phenylalanine levels, results in elevation of both plasma arachidonic acid and serum thromboxane B2. This gives support to the hypothesis that the consumption of animal fats may affect the production of arachidonic acid-derived platelet eicosanoids.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Developmental quotient at 24 months and fatty acid composition of diet in early infancy: a follow up study.

AIM: A follow up study of developmental quotient (DQ) at 24 months of toddlers whose diets in early infancy differed in fatty acid composition, and in whom an association between diet and DQ was observed at 4 months. METHODS: 81 toddlers were distributed among three groups according to early type of diets standard infant formula (SFo, n = 30); long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) enriched formula (LCPFo, n = 26); human milk (HM, n = 25). DQ at 24 months was assessed by Brunet-Léxine's psychomotor developmental test. A subgroup (n = 20; SFo 8; LCPFo 6; HM 6) was tested for erythrocyte phosphatidyicholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. RESULTS: No DQ differences were found by analysis of variance. Neither DQ nor erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid at 4 months were predictors of DQ scores at 24 months. Phosphatidylcholine arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid correlated positively, and phosphatidylcholine linoleic acid and phosphatidylethanolamine eicosapentaenoic acid negatively, with DQ. Multiple regression analysis including these variables explained 52% of inter-individual DQ variance. A strong association was found between the erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine arachidonic/ linoleic acid ratio and DQ (r = 0.75; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The diet/DQ association found at 4 months was not predictive of DQ scores at 24 months. Irrespective of dietary or genetic factors, there appears to be a strong correlation between the LC-PUFA composition of the red cell membrane and higher neurodevelopmental performance.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1997

Characteristics of the new milks for infants: fatty acids, nucleotides, selenium.

Several studies have focused on the composition of macro- and micro-nutrients of human milk in order to define a gold standard for the composition of infant formulas. Human milk contains animal-fats mainly characterized by the presence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) of both the n-6 and n-3 series which have structural and functional roles, particularly in preterm infants. It is still discussed whether dietary LCPUFA may have positive effects on the neurodevelopmental steps of term infants too. Nucleotides are low-molecular weight compounds. They seem to enhance the intestinal growth and maturation as well as the immune function, and play a role in energy metabolism. Selenium is involved in protective reactions. Despite there is no scientific consensus to support the use of LCPUFA in term formulas, it is advisable to improve formulas just to approach more closely the composition of human milk. As long as nucleotides are concerned further studies must be carried out in order to define their efficacy and safety. The potential generation of hydroxy radicals from the new molecules added to formulas point out also the protective role of antioxidant molecules such as selenium in infant nutrition.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Fatty acid metabolism in phenylketonuria.

Children treated for phenylketonuria (PKU) have a low intake of whole animal foods. Consequently, the dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is just a few milligrams per day, mostly represented by arachidonic acid (AA). In a consecutive series of studies, we assessed in treated PKU children their long-chain PUFA status, the AA-related eicosanoid synthesis and the effects of specific PUFA supplementations. We found that the good compliance with the dietary regimen negatively influences the long-chain PUFA status and serum eicosanoid release from platelets. Supplementation with either marine or blackcurrant oils modifies the long-chain PUFA status of PKU children without approaching the fatty acid pattern of a healthy control population. Good-compliant PKU patients have diet-related, low levels of circulating long-chain PUFA, whose clinical and functional consequences deserve further investigation. The effects of dietary supplementations with long-chain PUFA of both the n-6 and n-3 series should be carefully evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Madin Darby canine kidney: a new cell line for Pneumocystis carinii in vitro culture.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is a highly frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised subjects, particularly in HIV-infected ones. The biology of P. Carinii is poorly understood because of the lack of reliable synthetic media or adequate cell lines to grow this opportunistic pathogen in continuous culture. We reported the suitability of the MDCK (Madin Darby Canine Kidney, ATTC CCL 34) cell line to support the temporary microorganism's growth in vitro and the experimental pharmacological trials, in comparison with the HEL 299 cell line, used as reference standard.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Early breastfeeding is linked to higher intelligence quotient scores in dietary treated phenylketonuric children.

Strict control of phenylalanine intake is the main dietary intervention for phenylketonuric children. Whether other dietary-related factors improve the clinical outcome for treated phenylketonuric children in neurodevelopmental terms, however, remains unexplored. We retrospectively compared the intelligence quotient (IQ) score of 26 school-age phenylketonuric children who were either breastfed or formula fed for 20-40 days prior to dietary intervention. Children who had been breastfed as infants scored significantly better (IQ advantage of 14.0 points, p = 0.01) than children who had been formula fed. A 12.9 point advantage persisted also after adjusting for social and maternal education status (p = 0.02). In this sample of early treated term infants with phenylketonuria there was no associated between IQ scores and the age at treatment onset and plasma phenylalanine levels during treatment. We conclude that breastfeeding in the prediagnostic stage may help treated infants and children with phenylketonuria to improve neurodevelopmental performance.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1995

Lipid status and fatty acid metabolism in phenylketonuria.

Owing to dietary treatment, patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) are supplied with only small amounts of animal fats and show low blood cholesterol levels and a poor long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) status. Endogenous synthesis should compensate for the physiological need for cholesterol for growth, but supplementary exogenous LC-PUFA seems advisable. PKU infants could develop depletion of docosahexaenoic acid, fundamental for the functional development of the central nervous system. The availability of arachidonic acid from plasma in PKU has been found to be related to dietary compliance, and seems to influence the synthesis of arachidonate-derived eicosanoids. Trials of dietary supplementation of PKU patients with oils containing LC-PUFA are in progress, but the functional consequences of these supplementations need further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The effects of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma lipids and fatty acids of treated phenylketonuric children.

Dietary-treated phenylketonuric patients (PKUs) display low levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma lipids. In a 6-month clinical trial we observed a decrease of triglycerides and an increase of n-3 long-chain PUFA in plasma of PKUs supplemented with fish oil, while no major differences in respect to the baseline values were found in a group supplemented with blackcurrant oil. A more complete source of long-chain PUFA of both the n-6 and n-3 series should be investigated for dietary supplementation of PKU patients.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Fatty acids in pediatric nutrition.

The past 20 years have shown that dietary FA molecules are able to mediate and condition biologic functions in an increasing number of biochemical contexts. Different diet interventions can induce measurable alterations at the ultrastructural level of lipid moieties and circulating FAs. This has many consequences for prevention, for therapy, and, in particular, for the management of chronic degenerative disease. From the earliest stages of life, an adequate availability of the n-6 and n-3 series LCP seems essential to ensure the adequate structural and functional development of the various tissues, especially the central nervous system tissues. Recognition of the numerous steps involved in intermediate FA metabolism should induce us to further our understanding of the manifold possibilities open for intervention on FA profile and balance and stress the need for an interdisciplinary approach.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Neurodevelopmental quotient of healthy term infants at 4 months and feeding practice: the role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

A direct influence of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) on the developmental quotient (DQ) of the healthy term infant remains unexplored. To test this hypothesis, we designed a prospective study of three types of diet. Twenty-nine infants received a LC-PUFA-supplemented formula, 31 received a standard infant formula, and 30 infants were breast-fed exclusively. Neurodevelopmental response was measured by the Brunet-Lézine psychomotor development test at 4 mo. The fatty acid status was also assessed among three diet subgroups (59 subjects) at 4 mo. Formula-fed infants who received LC-PUFA supplementation scored significantly higher (p < 0.01) on the Brunet-Lézine scale than infants who received the standard formula. Breast-fed infants also performed better than those fed the standard formula. Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels in circulating lipids and erythrocyte phospholipids were higher among breast-fed infants and among the group fed the arachidonic- and docosahexaenoic acid-supplemented formula. These findings are suggestive that formula supplementation with one or both of these fatty acids can benefit term infants in neurodevelopmental performance.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1995

Dietary fiber in weaning foods of young children.

OBJECTIVE: An evaluation of the opportunity to introduce fiber in the diet of weaning infants. METHODS: A descriptive review of the literature to assess the role of fiber in the following dietary interventions: (1) definition of the nutrient amounts that meet the weaning infant's physiologic needs; (2) modulation of digestive and absorption processes; and (3) improving the nutritional balance between the 6th and the 12th months of life and setting habitual dietary patterns for subsequent years. FINDINGS: Whole cereals, nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, and legumes lower the caloric and proteic density of meals, modulate nutrient and antigen absorption, and provide bulk material. They supply proteins of low biological value, minimal amounts of lipids (mostly essential polyunsaturated), complex carbohydrates, and soluble fiber, which are fermented into short-chain fatty acids by the colonic flora, and insoluble fiber that modulates intestinal function. Minerals, trace elements, and vitamins add to the value of fiber-containing foods in the diet. Recent nutritional surveys indicate that the diets of 12-month-old infants tend to include too much animal proteins and to be too protein-dense, which could be corrected with an increase of fiber-containing foods. CONCLUSIONS: Fiber-containing foods share unique characteristics with nutritional and metabolic implications for the weaning infant. Whole cereals, green vegetables, and legumes should be routinely introduced during the weaning process to achieve a better nutritional balance and to accustom children to diets with fiber content. The daily intake of fiber should be gradually increased to 5 g/d during the second semester of life.

Diet↗