Palm olein in infant formula: absorption of fat and minerals by normal infants

Abstract

Palm olein, a low-melting fraction of palm oil, and soy oil can be combined to obtain fat blends with proportions of palmitic and oleic acids similar to those of human milk. We compared the absorption of fat and calcium by infants fed a formula containing a blend of palm olein (53%) and soy oil (47%) (Formula PO/S) with that by infants fed a formula containing a blend of soy oil (60%) and coconut oil (40%) (Formula S/C). In a randomized crossover design, one study was performed with each formula in each of 11 normal infants ranging in age from 27 to 161 d. Six of the infants were admitted for 72-h metabolic balance studies. In the other five infants, feces (with some admixture of urine) were collected at home for 96 h by using acid-washed cloth diapers. Mean (+/- SD) absorption of fat was 90.6 +/- 1.6% of intake when Formula PO/S was fed and 95.2 +/- 1.1% of intake when Formula S/C was fed; the difference was significant (P < 0.001). The difference in excretion of fat by infants fed the two formulas was explained by the difference in excretion of palmitic acid. Absorption of calcium averaged 39.0 +/- 8.3% of intake with Formula PO/S and 48.4 +/- 10.3% with Formula S/C; the difference was significant (P < 0.01). We conclude that fat is less well absorbed from a mixture of 53% palm olein and 47% soy oil than from a mixture of 60% soy oil and 40% coconut oil, and that absorption of calcium is less from a formula containing palm olein, presumably because of the formation of insoluble calcium soaps of unabsorbed palmitic acid.

Fatty acid absorption in preterms on formulas with and without long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and in terms on formulas without these added

“…Absorption was not significantly different in the term group. These values were in agreement with the published data (Carnielli et al, 1996c;Chappell et al, 1986;Nelson et al, 1996). Probably one of the aspects most carefully considered has been the study of AA and DHA absorption.…”

Fatty acid and sn-2 fatty acid composition in human milk from Granada (Spain) and in infant formulas

“…These results were obtained in studies carried out on term infants (Carnielli et al, 1996;Filler et al, 1969), preterm infants (Carnielli et al, 1995) and rats (Aoyama et al, 1996;de Fown et al, 1994;Lien et al, 1993;Renaud et al, 1995;Tomarelli et al, 1968). Moreover, the location of palmitic acid in the sn-2 position in infant formulas improves the absorption of calcium in the small intestine (Lucas et al, 1997;Carnielli et al, 1996;Nelson et al, 1996).…”

“…Moreover, the location of palmitic acid in the sn-2 position in infant formulas improve the absorption of calcium in the small intestine (Lucas et al, 1997;Carnielli et al, 1996;Nelson et al, 1996) and results in a significantly higher whole-body mass (Kennedy et al, 1999).…”

Tolerance, Bone Mineral Content, and Serum Vitamin D Concentration of Term Infants Fed Partially Hydrolyzed Whey-based Infant Formula

“…Formulas containing palm oil or palm olein oil as fat sources have been shown to result in reduced Ca absorption [2][3][4] and reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) [5]. Additionally, unabsorbed fatty acids combine with unabsorbed Ca forming Ca-fatty acid soaps which result in firmer stools [6].…”