Fat is an important component of human milk and infant formula (IF), delivering half of the energy a baby needs. Nowadays, mostly vegetable fats are used in IFs, however, the use of bovine milk fat in formulas is currently increasing. Bovine milk fat contains a different composition of fatty acids and lipid components than vegetable fats. We have compared the lipid profile of human and bovine milk to infant formulas with different fat sources. Furthermore, current knowledge of how infant digestion, absorption, metabolic responses, gut immunity, microbiota and/or cognition is affected by dietary fat is reviewed. The possible opportunities and drawbacks of the application of bovine milk fat in infant nutrition are described. Future perspectives for the development of IF containing bovine milk fat and future research directions are highlighted. IntroductionMilk is essential for babies. For a newborn child breast milk is the preferred nutrition (EU Directive 2006/141). However, when breastfeeding is not an option, infant formula (IF) is the best alternative. About four percent of human milk consists of fat, which delivers approximately 50% of the total energy to infants (Manson & Weaver, 1997). Therefore, this is a major component to focus on in the development of optimal IF. Currently, different fat sources are used for IF, of which most contain a mixture of vegetable fats.The most commonly used vegetable fats are coconut oil, corn oil, soybean oil, palm oil (palm olein, palm kernel oil), (high oleic) sunflower oil, high oleic safflower oil and low erucic acid

Increasing evidence suggests that intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially omega-3 LCPUFA, improves respiratory health early in life. This review summarizes publications from 2009 through July 2012 that evaluated effects of fish, fish oil or LCPUFA intake during pregnancy, lactation, and early postnatal years on allergic and infectious respiratory illnesses. Studies during pregnancy found inconsistent effects in offspring: two showed no effects and three showed protective effects of omega-3 LCPUFA on respiratory illnesses or atopic dermatitis. Two studies found that infants fed breast milk with higher omega-3 LCPUFA had reduced allergic manifestations. Earlier introduction of fish improved respiratory health or reduced allergy in four studies. Three randomized controlled trials showed that providing LCPUFA during infancy or childhood reduced allergy and/or respiratory illness while one found no effect. Potential explanations for the variability among studies and possible mechanisms of action for LCPUFA in allergy and respiratory disease are discussed.

The profile of fatty acids released during in vitro digestion of vegetable and bovine milk fat-based infant formula differ.