Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), are making significant strides toward predicting sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a leading cause of unexpected infant mortality. Their findings, published on September 3 in JAMA Pediatrics, highlight metabolic signals in infants who succumbed to SIDS, potentially paving the way for future preventative measures.
The study suggests that metabolic factors may play a critical role in SIDS, providing insights that could help identify infants at higher risk. “These patterns could help identify children at higher risk, potentially saving lives in the future,” said Scott Oltman, MS, an epidemiologist at UCSF and the study’s first author.
SIDS claims the lives of approximately 1,300 infants under the age of one each year in the United States. Although the exact causes remain elusive, researchers believe that multiple factors contribute to these tragic deaths, including inadequate prenatal care, maternal smoking and alcohol use, structural racism, and air pollution. Notably, male infants are at a higher risk than female infants.
To investigate potential biological causes of SIDS, the UCSF team focused on the metabolic system, which governs how the body processes and stores energy. Building on previous research that suggested a link between metabolism and SIDS, the researchers analyzed metabolic data collected during routine newborn screenings in California. They compared the metabolic profiles of infants who later died from SIDS with those of similar infants who survived.
Among the 354 infants who died from SIDS, the researchers identified specific metabolic biomarkers associated with increased risk. For instance, lower levels of C-3 and elevated levels of C-14OH were found to correlate with a higher likelihood of dying from SIDS. These results align with earlier studies that have linked fatty acid oxidation enzymes to SIDS risk. Conversely, several biomarkers were identified that, when elevated, appeared to reduce the risk of SIDS.
While the research marks a promising step forward, it remains preliminary and requires further validation. The authors noted that ideally, future studies should focus on live infants and track their development over time.
Although the ultimate goal of establishing a screening test for SIDS remains a distant prospect, these findings signal the potential for breakthroughs in preventing this devastating syndrome. “This study is a critical step toward integrating metabolic markers with potential genetic markers and other risk factors to better assess the risk of SIDS in infants,” Oltman explained.
Looking ahead, Oltman and his team plan to explore additional metabolic markers and their genetic counterparts to uncover more factors contributing to SIDS.
Related Topics:
-
Prenatal Marijuana Exposure Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Opioid Addiction In The Future
-
From Uterus To Middle Age: Prenatal Immune Disorders Reshape Memory And Cognitive Aging
