Small differences in the sugar composition of nutrition during the earliest stages of life can have long-lasting effects on metabolism, body weight and even lifespan.
This is the outcome of research by Peixin Sun, who successfully defended his PhD on Wednesday 8 April at Wageningen University & Research. The study provides important leads for the prevention of obesity and other metabolic disorders in humans.
The global rise in obesity calls for effective preventive strategies. One of the most promising approaches is to optimise nutrition during critical developmental stages, such as early childhood. Breastfeeding plays an important role in this. A key component of breast milk is lactose, which is digested into glucose and galactose. Until now, little was known about the role of galactose in early development. The research by Peixin Sun, PhD candidate at the Chair Group Human and Animal Physiology at Wageningen University & Research, helps to fill this knowledge gap.
Galactose
In this PhD research, Sun investigated the long-term effects of galactose in early-life nutrition, using both mouse models and fruit flies. The findings show that galactose has various, strongly context-dependent effects on metabolism. Early-life exposure to galactose in mice led to subtle changes in hormonal and insulin signaling. In fruit flies, sex-specific effects on lifespan and lipid metabolism were observed.
Notably, the effects are not uniform: depending on diet, life stage and sex, outcomes can range from beneficial to less favourable. According to Sun, this highlights that changes to early-life nutrition should be approached with care.
Human health
The results of this research contribute to a better understanding of how early-life nutrition can influence the risk of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, later in life. "This knowledge is relevant for the development of dietary guidelines for infants and young children," says the PhD candidate. "By gaining insight into the effects of nutrients such as galactose, it may become possible to more precisely support a healthy metabolism from the very beginning of life. This is especially relevant for lactose-intolerant infants who rely on lactose-free, and thus galactose-free, infant formula. This also offers perspectives for potential preventive strategies."
Dietary guidelines
Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms through which metabolism is influenced. "However, this research clearly shows that early-life nutrition can have a powerful impact on health later in life. Optimising the composition of infant nutrition may therefore play an important role in promoting a healthy future," Sun concludes.
