Infant nutrition - review of lipid innovation in infant formula

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides the optimum nutrition for infants, supplying macro-and micronutrients in readily absorbable forms. It is almost 100 years since the first artificial feeds were created in an attempt to 'humanise' cows' milk. Formula improvements have taken place over the decades; advances in food technology supported by clinical studies have contributed to the aim of matching the composition and functional outcomes of breastmilk in formula manufacture. It is possible to alter the structure of triglycerides in vegetable oil, in order to more closely match their composition and structure in breastmilk fat. Clinical research in infant formula for pre-term and term infants supports the safety and beneficial nutritional outcomes of this innovation, which are the subject of a health claim submission currently being evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority.

Focusing on fatty acid profile in milk from different species after in vitro digestion

“…The amount of free S-FA in digested human milk may be a balance between the preferential position occupied by those fatty acids and the size of the fat globules. It is reported that in human milk C16:0 is located mainly in the sn-2 position whereas in bovine, ovine, and caprine milk it is primarily found in sn-1 position (Claeys et al 2014); however the 2-monoglycerides with palmitic acid at the sn-2 position are easier to absorb by infant than free fatty acids (Sidnell & Greenstreet, 2011). The highest level C16:1 found in human milk may be ascribed to the sn-1 and sn-3 position in TAG.…”

A comprehensive review on in vitro digestion of infant formula

“…This is because not only does breast milk contain a significant amount of bile salt-simulated lipase, but also a high proportion (over 70%) of triglycerides with palmitic acid located at sn-2 position (Jensen, 1999;Lien, Yuhas, and Boyle, 1993). The 2-monoglycerides with palmitic acids at the sn-2 position are easier to absorb by infants than free fatty acids (Sidnell and Greenstreet, 2011;Thompkinson & Kharb, 2007). The triglyceride structure also strongly influences the fat absorption, the longer the chain and higher the saturation of the fatty acids, the less it is well absorbed (Tomarelli, Meyer, Weaber, and Bernhart, 1968), (Bracco, 1994).…”

Early growth and obesity risk – What should health professionals be advising?

“…Advances in food technology, together with increased knowledge and understanding of the composition and molecular structure of breastmilk, have led to significant improvements towards the goal of making formula milk match the nutritional composition of breastmilk in recent years. The overall macronutrient content of formula milk is now more similar to that of breastmilk, and recently the position of the various fatty acids on the triglycerides has been manipulated to closely match the composition and structure in breastmilk fat (Sidnell & Greenstreet ). Infant formulas have also been fortified with probiotics to resemble the gut microbiotia of breastfed infants (BNF ).…”