Dataset Information

Longitudinal telomere length and body composition in healthy term-born infants during the first two years of life.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is one of the markers of biological aging as shortening occurs over time. Shorter LTL has been associated with adiposity and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. The objective was to assess LTL and LTL shortening during the first 2 years of life in healthy, term-born infants and to associate LTL shortening with potential stressors and body composition.

Study design

In 145 healthy, term-born infants (85 boys), we measured LTL in blood, expressed as telomere to single-gene copy ratio (T/S ratio), at 3 months and 2 years by quantitative PCR technique. Fat mass (FM) was assessed longitudinally by PEAPOD, DXA, and abdominal FM by ultrasound.

Results

LTL decreased by 8.5% from 3 months to 2 years (T/S ratio 4.10 vs 3.75, p<0.001). LTL shortening from 3 months to 2 years associated with FM%(R = 0.254), FM index(R = 0.243) and visceral FM(R = 0.287) at 2 years. LTL shortening tended to associate with gain in FM% from 3 to 6 months (R = 0.155, p = 0.11), in the critical window for adiposity programming. There was a trend to a shorter LTL in boys at 2 years(p = 0.056). LTL shortening from 3 months to 2 years was not different between sexes.

Conclusion

We present longitudinal LTL values and show that LTL shortens considerably (8.5%) during the first 2 years of life. LTL shortening during first 2 years of life was associated with FM%, FMI and visceral FM at age 2 years, suggesting that adverse adiposity programming in early life could contribute to more LTL shortening.

SUBMITTER: de Fluiter KS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7853438 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Longitudinal telomere length and body composition in healthy term-born infants during the first two years of life.

de Fluiter Kirsten S KS Codd Veryan V Denniff Matthew M Kerkhof Gerthe F GF van Beijsterveldt Inge A L P IALP Breij Laura M LM Samani Nilesh J NJ Abrahamse-Berkeveld Marieke M Hokken-Koelega Anita C S ACS

PloS one 20210202 2

<h4>Objective</h4>Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is one of the markers of biological aging as shortening occurs over time. Shorter LTL has been associated with adiposity and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. The objective was to assess LTL and LTL shortening during the first 2 years of life in healthy, term-born infants and to associate LTL shortening with potential stressors and body composition.<h4>Study design</h4>In 145 healthy, term-born infants (85 boys), we measured LTL in blood, ...[more]

PMID: 33529269

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Project description:Early-life intestinal microbiota development is crucial for host's long-term health and is influenced by many factors including gestational age, birth and feeding modes, birth environment, ethnic/geographical background, etc. However, 'quantitative' data on the actual population levels of gut bacterial communities when these influences are controlled for is relatively rare. Herein, we demonstrate a quantitative perspective of microbiota development in natural and healthy milieus, i.e., in healthy, full-term, vaginally born and breast-fed infants (n = 19) born at same clinic. Fecal microbiota at age 1 and 7 days, 1, 3, and 6 months and 3 years is quantified using highly sensitive reverse-transcription-quantitative-PCR assays targeting bacterial rRNA molecules. At day 1, we detect one or more bacteria in all (100%) of the babies, wherein the microbiota is composed mainly of enterobacteria (35%), Bacteroides fragilis group (23%), enterococci (18%), staphylococci (13%), and bifidobacteria (9%). Altogether, facultative anaerobes predominate during first few weeks whereafter obligate anaerobes including bifidobacteria, B. fragilis group, Clostridium coccoides group, and Clostridium leptum subgroup gradually start prevailing. At 3 years, the composition is represented almost entirely (99%) by obligate anaerobes including C. leptum subgroup (34%), bifidobacteria (22%), B. fragilis group (21%), C. coccoides group (17%), Atopobium cluster (4%), and Prevotella (1%). The overall obligate/facultative proportion is 32/68, 37/63, 54/46, 70/30, 64/36, and 99/1% at 1 and 7 days, 1, 3, and 6 months and 3 years, respectively. However, interestingly, considerable individual-specific variations in the obligate/facultative ratios as well as in the proportions of Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria communities are seen among these babies. This disparity even within this highly homogenous cohort manifests the magnitude of diverse patterns of gut microbiota configuration and hence underpins the importance of considering not only the gestational age, birth, and feeding modes, and ethnic/geographical background but also other potential outstanding factors when investigating the elements shaping the early microbiota development. In summary, the data demonstrate a quantitative bird's-eye view of the ontogenesis of early-life gut microbiota in typically natural and healthy milieus and should be informative and facilitative for future studies exploring various aspects of the human gut microbiota.

Project description:IntroductionTelomere length (TL) is generally regarded as a biomarker of aging. TL, which is influenced by sociodemographic factors, has been shown to be inversely associated with morbidity. However, most studies examined the youngest, and whether the findings can be extended to older individuals is less clear. Further, few studies have examined these questions in Chinese older adults. This cross-sectional study examined TL and its associated factors in Chinese aged 75+ years in Hong Kong.MethodsParticipants were from the Mr. and Ms. Osteoporosis cohort. A structured interview on sociodemographic factors and physical measurement was conducted. Frailty and sarcopenia status were respectively determined by Fried's criteria and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia definition. TL was measured by a molecular inversion probe-quantitative PCR assay and expressed as a novel telomere/a single copy reference gene (T/S) ratio. Adjusted binary logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between TL and the presence of multimorbidity, age-related diseases, frailty, and sarcopenia.ResultsAmong 555 participants (mean age 83.6 ± 3.8 years, 41.3% females), the mean T/S ratio was 1.01 ± 0.20. Males had a lower T/S ratio (0.97 ± 0.20) compared with females (1.07 ± 0.18) (p < 0.001). A lower education level was related to a longer TL (p = 0.016). Being a current smoker was related to a shorter TL (p = 0.007). TL was not significantly different across categories of age, subjective socioeconomic status, drinking status, physical activity level, and body mass index (p > 0.05). There were no associations between TL and the presence of multimorbidity, diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, frailty, and sarcopenia.ConclusionAmong Chinese aged 75+ years, males had shorter TL compared with females. TL was not associated with age-related diseases, frailty, and sarcopenia in this age group. TL may not be a biological marker of aging among older individuals.

Dataset Information

Longitudinal telomere length and body composition in healthy term-born infants during the first two years of life.

Objective

Study design

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Longitudinal telomere length and body composition in healthy term-born infants during the first two years of life.

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