Effects of Nucleotides Supplementation of Infant Formulas on Plasma and Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition: A Meta-Analysis

Neuroprotective Actions of Different Exogenous Nucleotides in H2O2-Induced Cell Death in PC-12 Cells

Exogenous nucleotides (NTs) are considered conditionally essential nutrients, and the brain cannot synthesize NTs de novo. Therefore, the external supplementation of exogenous NTs is of great significance for maintaining normal neuronal metabolism and function under certain conditions, such as brain aging. This study, therefore, sets out to assess the neuroprotective effect of four kinds of single exogenous NTs and a mixture of the NTs, and to elucidate the potential mechanism. A rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC-12 was treated with different concentrations of exogenous NTs after 4 h of exposure to 200 µM H₂O₂. We found that the exogenous NTs exerted significant neuroprotection through decreasing neuron apoptosis and DNA damage, ameliorating inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, promoting cell viability, and augmenting antioxidant activity, and that they tended to up-regulate the NAD⁺/SIRTI/PGC-1α pathway involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. Among the different NTs, the neuroprotective effect of AMP seemed to be more prominent, followed by the NT mixture, NMN, and CMP. AMP also exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in H₂O₂-treated PC-12 cells. UMP was excellent at inhibiting neuronal inflammation and improving mitochondrial function, while GMP offered major advantages in stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential. The mixture of NTs had a slightly better performance than NMN, especially in up-modulating the NAD⁺/SIRTI/PGC-1α pathway, which regulates mitochondrial biogenesis. These results suggest that antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and protection of mitochondrial function are possible mechanisms of the neuroprotective actions of exogenous NTs, and that the optimization of the mixture ratio and the concentration of NTs may achieve a better outcome.

Nutritional Supplements to Improve Outcomes in Preterm Neonates

Preterm infants are at higher risk of mortality and morbidity compared with those born at term. Nutrition-related morbidities include poor growth, immune deficiency, nutritional deficiencies, and adverse long-term neurodevelopment. In addition to macronutrients, many nutritional supplements have been used to enhance growth and development, and decrease infections. Nutrients can enhance preterm infants' immune status, optimize the microbiome, improve growth and development, and influence the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and other outcomes.

Effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on growth in infants: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

Dietary nucleotides are thought to be conditionally essential nutrients in infancy. However, studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between nucleotide supplementation and infant physical growth. We conducted this meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of nucleotide supplementation of infant formula in promoting early infant growth.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials that evaluated the association between nucleotide supplementation and infant growth through June 2017 were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q and I² tests.

RESULTS

Nucleotide supplementation significantly increased the rate of weight gain (SMD 0.26; 95% CI 0.06-0.47), but had no effect on weight (SMD - 0.16; 95% CI - 0.55-0.23), weight Z score (SMD, - 0.42; 95% CI - 1.64-0.81), length (SMD 0.01; 95% CI - 0.18-0.21) and length Z score (SMD 0.15; 95% CI - 0.10-0.40). Occipitofrontal head circumference (OFC) at 7-8 weeks (SMD 0.30; 95% CI 0.10-0.50) and the rate of OFC gain (SMD 0.34; 95% CI 0.09-0.58) were significantly improved with nucleotide supplementation, whereas, 16- and 20-week OFC values did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis indicated that nucleotide supplementation can increase the rate of weight gain, OFC and rate of OFC gain; however, we cannot conclude that it affects weight, weight Z score, length or length Z score. Large-scale randomized controlled trials of long-term nucleotide supplementation are needed to reach definitive conclusions.