Sterol Composition in Infant Formulas and Estimated Intake

Abstract

Sterol contents in infant formulas (IFs) from the European market were determined, and their intakes by infants between 0 and 6 months were evaluated. Total animal sterols (mg/100 mL) ranged from 1.71 to 5.46, cholesterol being the main animal sterol (1.46-5.1). In general, cholesterol and desmosterol were lower than the human milk (HM) values indicated by other authors. Total plant sterol (mg/100 mL) ranged from 3.1 to 5.0. β-Sitosterol, the most abundant phytosterol, ranged from 1.82 to 3.01, followed by campesterol (0.72-1.15), stigmasterol (0.27-0.53), and brassicasterol (0.14-0.28). Cholesterol intake (mg/day) ranged from 9 to 51 and plant sterol intake (mg/day) from 19 to 50. The sterol profile of IFs is highly dependent on the type and quantity of fats used in their formula. The use of bovine milk fat and milk fat globule membrane in the IFs can approximate the profile of animal sterols to those found in HM, though cholesterol intakes in breastfed infants are still higher than in formula-fed infants.

Serum non-cholesterol sterols and cholesterol metabolism in childhood and adolescence

“…Since breast milk and infant formulas contain plenty of desmosterol, it is possible that the high serum desmosterol levels primarily reflected their increased dietary intake rather than cholesterol synthesis. Breast milk contains desmosterol about 1 mg/100 ml (0.03 mmol/ l) depending on the state of lactation, so that at the age of 5 months its dietary intake can be up to 5-10 mg/d [13,[22][23][24]. The concept that serum desmosterol is primarily diet-derived after birth is also supported by the finding that in this age group desmosterol did not correlate with any of the other cholesterol synthesis markers.…”

“…Plant sterols are not synthesized in the human body, and they are diet-derived. Breast milk contains very little plant sterols, about 0.1 mg/100 ml (0.003 mmol/l) [13], whereas infant formulas contain more, about 4 mg/100 ml (0.1 mmol/l) [24]. Thus, the low campesterol/cholestanol ratio, which reflects the plant sterol intake [21], suggested that the low serum plant sterol levels reflected primarily their low intake.…”

Temporal Changes of Phospholipids Fatty Acids and Cholesterol in Breast Milk and Relationship with Diet

“…Wong reported that breast‐fed infants had a fivefold more cholesterol intake than formula‐fed infants (18.2 and 3.40 mg per kg per day, respectively, average body weight of 6.80 kg at 20 weeks of age). In addition, lots of researches showed there was a significant difference in the sterol profile between HM and infant formula, that is, other animal sterols and the cholesterol levels were higher in HM (12.0–16.6 mg per 100 mL vs 0.40–5.47 mg per 100 mL in infant formula). Compared with breast‐fed infants, formula‐fed infants had lower hepatic acyl CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity, whereas lower activity ACAT conditions may be detrimental to the absorption of exogenous cholesterol in infants.…”

Effect of cooking methods on the phytosterol content in nine selected vegetables

“…조제분유에는 우유에서 유래되는 콜레스테롤뿐만 아니라 식물성유지에서 유래되는 식물성스테롤 또한 존재하 고 있다 (Claumarchirant et al, 2015;Maduko and Park, 2007 (Park et al, 2014). 벼과의 대나무족(bambuseae)에 속하는 식물인 죽순(Bamboo shoot, Phyllostachys spp.…”