Milk Fat Globule Membrane as a Modulator of Infant Metabolism and Gut Microbiota: A Formula Supplement Narrowing the Metabolic Differences between Breastfed and Formula‐Fed Infants

Abstract

ScopeMilk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is an important component of milk that has previously been removed in the manufacture of infant formulas, but has recently gained attention owing to its potential to improve immunological, cognitive, and metabolic health. The goal of this study is to determine whether supplementing MFGM in infant formula would drive desirable changes in metabolism and gut microbiota to elicit benefits observed in prior studies.Methods and ResultsThe serum metabolome and fecal microbiota are analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy and 16S rRNA gene sequencing respectively in a cohort of Chinese infants given a standard formula or a formula supplemented with an MFGM‐enriched whey protein fraction. Supplementing MFGM suppressed protein degradation pathways and the levels of insulinogenic amino acids that are typically enhanced in formula‐fed infants while facilitating fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis, a feature that may favor brain development. MFGM supplementation did not induce significant compositional changes in the fecal microbiota but suppressed microbial diversity and altered microbiota‐associated metabolites.ConclusionSupplementing MFGM in a formula reduced some metabolic gaps between formula‐fed and breastfed infants.

Metabolic Phenotype and Microbiome of Infants Fed Formula Containing Lactobacillus paracasei Strain F-19

“…As expected, at 4 months (the end of the supplementation period), the SF and F19 infants had a similar microbial community structure (besides the higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the F19 group), which was significantly different from BF infants. We have observed this in other studies ( 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ), and this shows that there is a distinct microbial composition for BF infants compared to FF infants. As we have also shown in previous studies ( 3 , 6 ), at 12 months, infants from all three groups were indistinguishable from one another, which suggests that current diet, rather than previous diet, impacts the microbial composition measured through 16S sequencing.…”

“…We have observed this in other studies ( 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ), and this shows that there is a distinct microbial composition for BF infants compared to FF infants. As we have also shown in previous studies ( 3 , 6 ), at 12 months, infants from all three groups were indistinguishable from one another, which suggests that current diet, rather than previous diet, impacts the microbial composition measured through 16S sequencing.…”

Improving Human Health with Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Lactic Acid Bacteria, and Bifidobacteria

“…Although the microbial composition changes in piglets do not translate well to infants, the authors did observe a similar increase in Parabacteroides, which is a characteristic of breastfed infants [103]. Others have also shown that MFGM in infant formula can modify the fecal microbiota and metabolism of infants through changes in serum metabolites [111,112]. These data and others (reviewed in [34]) suggest that, individually, MFGM plays an important role in mucosal immunity.…”

Influence of milk fat globule membrane and milk protein concentrate treated by ultrasound on the structural and emulsifying stability of mimicking human fat emulsions

“…Presently, commercial milk fat globule membrane and milk protein concentrate have been paid much more attention due to their high nutritional value. Some studies [9] , [10] have added commercial milk fat globule membrane and milk protein concentrate as emulsifiers to wrap milk fat globules to mimic breast milk fat. It is worth noting that the physical, structural and stability characteristics of mimicking human fat emulsion are of great significance for milk product processing.…”