Effects of Infant Diets on Estrogen Activity and Development

Overview

This study, conducted at the Children's Hospital of Boston and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, will examine the natural history of infant development in the first year of life and how different types of infant feeding may affect that development. During pregnancy, babies are exposed to the female hormone estrogen from their mothers. Estrogen affects development of breasts and milk production, as well as the development of the uterus, ovaries and possibly other hormonally responsive organs in both males and females. Between 6 and 12 months of age, the effects are reduced. Breast milk and some infant formulas may contain compounds that can act like female hormones in the body and may prolong the estrogen effects. This study will examine the natural history of estrogen activity in infants on different feeding regimens, breast milk, cow's milk, and soy milk and will serve as preparation for a larger study of the effects of soy formula on estrogen activity in infants. Full-term female babies (37 to 41 weeks gestational age at birth) from 0 to 12 months of age and male babies from birth to 6 months of age who weigh from 2501 to 4499 grams (about 5.5 to 10 pounds) at birth and who have no chromosomal abnormalities, major malformations, or endocrine problems may be eligible for this study. Males must have palpable testes. Babies being fed a diet of breast milk, soy milk, or cow's milk will be included. Study procedures include the following: * History of the baby's dietary intake since birth, provided by the parent; * Ultrasound measurement of the uterus, ovaries, and breasts in female babies; the testes, prostate, and breasts in males; and the thymus, thyroid, and kidneys in all babies; * Measurements of all babies' weight, length, and head circumference.

Term newborns have anatomic and sonographic evidence of in utero estrogen exposure. Over the first six months to a year of life, as the influence of maternal hormone wanes, these findings recede. Soy infant formula contains large amounts of isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) that can occupy estrogen receptors and act as estrogens in the laboratory. A food substance with estrogen activity might prolong the effect of maternal hormones, or interfere with hormonal homeostasis in the child. This cross-sectional pilot study will be undertaken in order to establish methods for a future multi center study designed to assess the potential effects of soy formula on estrogen activity in infants. In this pilot study (SEAD 1), 156 examinations on full-term infants, ages 0-12 months and on one of three feeding regimens (soy formula, breast milk or cow's milk formula) will be completed to see if their exposure to soy estrogen compared to breast milk and non-soy formulas prolongs anatomical evidence of estrogen exposure and response. A schedule of visits for SEAD 1 is included in Appendix A. In addition to SEAD 1, two other cross-sectional studies (SEAD 2 and SEAD 3) will be undertaken to evaluate anatomical evidence by physical examination (SEAD 2) and assess the hormonal and biochemical status of full-term infants ages 0-12 months (SEAD 3). These studies will be conducted at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in parallel with the SEAD 1 study. Further details of SEAD 2 and 3 will not be presented in this protocol. The purpose of the SEAD 1 pilot study is twofold. The first is to develop and finalize recruitment and collections procedures in preparation for a larger, comprehensive trial of biological response in children to soy formula with and without the estrogenic isoflavones. The second is to study the natural history of estrogen activity in infants on a variety of feeding regimens.