The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, used a neonatal pig model to examine liver effects during early development. Associate Professor Samer El-Kadi at Virginia Tech and his team fed newborn pigs two simplified formulas that differed only in fat type: one was high in medium-chain fatty acids from coconut oil and the other in long-chain fatty acids from animal fat, a profile closer to whole sow milk. Both groups received the same calories and protein.
Pigs given the medium-chain fat formula accumulated liver fat faster than those given the long-chain formula. El-Kadi reported that fat began to appear within seven days and that by about two weeks it had progressed from simple steatosis to a more severe inflammatory form. The researchers observed activation of both fat-making and fat-burning pathways, but these adaptive responses did not prevent fat buildup.
The authors note that steatotic liver disease, formerly called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is increasingly diagnosed in children and has been identified in some infants. They emphasized that the study does not mean parents should avoid formula; El-Kadi described breast milk as the "gold standard" and said formula remains a critical alternative when breastfeeding is not possible. The team will continue to study how specific fatty acids and their amounts influence liver metabolism in early life.
Difficult words
- neonatal — relating to newborn babies or animals
- fatty acid — a molecule that makes up fats in foodfatty acids
- steatosis — abnormal fat buildup inside the liver
- inflammatory — causing or related to inflammation in the body
- adaptive response — a change the body makes to cope with conditionsadaptive responses
- metabolism — chemical processes that keep an organism alive
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- The authors said the study does not mean parents should avoid formula. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- What information from the study would you tell new parents about feeding and liver health?
- What further questions should researchers study about fatty acids and early development?
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