Effects of breastfeeding and formula feeding on the expression level of FTO, CPT1A and PPAR-α genes in healthy infants

Effects of breastfeeding and formula feeding on the expression level of FTO, CPT1A and PPAR-α genes in healthy infants
Sahar Cheshmeh,^1,* Seyed Mostafa Nachvak ,²
1. KUMS
2. KUMS
Introduction: The prevalence of obesity and subsequent chronic diseases is increasing worldwide. Breastfeeding in comparison with formula-feeding has desirable effects on the prevention of obesity, chronic and infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression level of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO), carnitine palmitoyltransferase IA (CPT1A) and, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of breastfed, formula-fed and mix-fed (breastfed plus formula-fed) infants.
Methods: A total of 150 infants participated in this case-control study. All subjects were healthy infants aged 5 to 6 months that divided into 3 groups; breastfed, formula-fed and mix-fed. The expression level of FTO, CPT1A and, PPAR-α genes in PBMC were evaluated in each group using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.
Results: Our findings showed that the current weight, height and, head circumference of infants in the formula feeding and mix feeding groups were significantly higher than the exclusive breastfeeding group. The expression level of FTO and CPT1A genes in formula-fed and mix-fed infants were significantly up-regulated (p<0.001) than breastfed infants, while the expression level of PPAR-α gene was significantly down-regulated (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Breastfeeding showed modulatory effects on the expression level of obesity- predisposing genes and protects against obesity and subsequent non-communicable diseases. However, more investigations are required to explain the epigenetic effects of breast milk.
Keywords: : breastfeeding, formula feeding, FTO, CPT1A, PPAR-α