Pioneering Study Examines Infant Energy Balance to Optimize Growth
News provided byLSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center · 2 min read
Dr. Emily Flanagan, an assistant professor and director of the Developmental Physiology Laboratory at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has launched a pioneering five-year study examining the complex interplay between energy intake and expenditure in the first year of life. Funded by a $731,916 grant from the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the project aims to fill critical gaps in understanding infant growth and its long-term impact on obesity risk.
The study, titled "Characterization of Infant Energy Balance to Optimize Early Life Growth," will follow 100 healthy infants from 1 to 12 months of age, conducting detailed assessments at key intervals. Using advanced, gold-standard methods tailored for infants, researchers will measure energy intake and total daily energy expenditure in real-world settings.
Flanagan's preliminary research has revealed significant inaccuracies in predicted energy requirements among infants aged 1 to 3 months, with errors averaging 10%. These miscalculations can lead to early rapid weight gain and increased adiposity, potentially contributing to overfeeding during a critical period of metabolic establishment.
"Infancy is a crucial period for establishing lifelong metabolic health, but we still lack a full understanding of infant energy requirements and the factors driving differences in growth," Flanagan said. "This study will enable us to directly measure energy expenditure and intake, and explore how developmental, behavioral, and biological factors influence these measurements."
The research will also delve into sedentary and physical activity energy expenditure, as well as physiological, behavioral, and developmental factors that may influence growth. Biomarkers such as thyroid hormone T3, leptin, and epinephrine will be measured, alongside tracking feeding patterns, type of milk, introduction of complementary foods, physical activity, and gross motor milestones.
"This R01 award acknowledges Dr. Flanagan's innovative approach to understanding the earliest origins of obesity and metabolic disease," said Dr. Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. "By developing a more precise understanding of infant energy balance, this research has the potential to enhance our knowledge of healthy growth and identify early opportunities to prevent obesity."
The study's longitudinal design will help identify vulnerable periods for accelerated growth. For instance, researchers aim to determine if changes in growth are linked to developmental milestones, the introduction of solid foods, feeding patterns, or periods of reduced physical activity.
Families interested in participating in this research or other studies focused on pregnancy, infant health, and various health topics can visit the Pennington Biomedical Clinical Trials website at www.pbrc.edu/clinicaltrials to learn more and stay informed about future opportunities.
The project, funded under NIH Award No. R01DK148893, is set to run through April 30, 2031, with the potential for additional funding up to $3.55 million, contingent on available resources and satisfactory research progress.