Early protein intake predicts functional connectivity and neurocognition in preterm born children
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nature Research
Abstract
Nutritional intake can promote early neonatal brain development in very preterm born neonates
(< 32 weeks’ gestation). In a group of 7-year-old very preterm born children followed since birth, we
examined whether early nutrient intake in the frst weeks of life would be associated with long-term
brain function and neurocognitive skills at school age. Children underwent resting-state functional
MRI (fMRI), intelligence testing (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th Ed) and visual-motor
processing (Beery-Buktenica, 5th Ed) at 7 years. Relationships were assessed between neonatal
macronutrient intakes, functional connectivity strength between thalamic and default mode networks
(DMN), and neuro-cognitive function using multivariable regression. Greater functional connectivity
strength between thalamic networks and DMN was associated with greater intake of protein in the
frst week (β= 0.17; 95% CI 0.11, 0.23, p < 0.001) but lower intakes of fat (β= − 0.06; 95% CI − 0.09, −
0.02, p= 0.001) and carbohydrates (β= − 0.03; 95% CI − 0.04, − 0.01, p = 0.003). Connectivity strength
was also associated with protein intake during the frst month (β= 0.22; 95% CI 0.06, 0.37, p = 0.006).
Importantly, greater thalamic-DMN connectivity strength was associated with higher processing
speed indices (β= 26.9; 95% CI 4.21, 49.49, p = 0.02) and visual processing scores (β= 9.03; 95% CI 2.27,
15.79, p= 0.009). Optimizing early protein intake may contribute to promoting long-term brain health
in preterm-born children.
Description
Keywords
Protein, Nutrition, Neonatal brain development, Newborn and child health, Neurocognitive skills
Citation
Duerden, E. G. et al. (2021). Early protein intake predicts functional connectivity and neurocognition in preterm born children. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83125-z