A Concept Formula With Large, Milk Phospholipid‐Coated Lipid Droplets Enriched With Milk Fat Decreases Palmitic Acid and Calcium Levels in Stools of Healthy, Term Infants

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of an infant formula comprising large, dairy milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets containing a vegetable-dairy lipid mixture (Concept-Mix) with 6% of fatty acid (FA) as sn-2 palmitic acid (PA) on infant stool characteristics. Stool samples from infants fed Concept-Mix or standard formula with 97% vegetable lipids with 2% of FA as sn-2 PA (Control-Veg) are evaluated at baseline, 13 and 52 weeks of age. Overall, mean stool fat content decreases from 8 to 10 w% at baseline to <2 w% at 52 weeks. At 13 weeks, PA and Calcium (Ca) content, as well as FA sum are lower in Concept-Mix than Control-Veg stools, with values closer to breastfed infants. The increased dietary sn-2 PA content is regarded as instrumental for this fecal PA reduction. Indeed, in their proof of principle study in rats fed formula-based diets using Control-Veg, Concept-Mix, or Concept formula with 95% vegetable lipids (Concept-Veg) comprising 2%, 6%, and 2% of FA as sn-2 PA, they demonstrate that PA absorption is the highest for Concept-Mix. Hence, a concept formula with large, milk phospholipid coated lipid droplets enriched with milk fat beneficially affects PA and Ca absorption in infants, likely due to its increased sn-2 PA content. Practical applications: The results of these studies show the merit with regard to sn-2 palmitic acid (PA) and Calcium absorption of increasing the sn-2 PA content in the fat blend of infant formula by including dairy milk fat.

Infant formula containing large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets and dairy lipids affects cognitive performance at school age

“…Infant n-3 FA status is well-known to be directly influenced by the supply of preformed n-3 and -6 LCPUFAs, as well as their precursors LA and ALA ( 41 ). While the Concept and Standard IFs in the current study were similar in n-3 and -6 fatty acid composition, part of the lipid fraction in Concept IF was derived from dairy lipids rather than vegetable oil, resulting in more efficient absorption of sn-2 palmitic acid (PA C16:0) in the Concept compared to Standard group ( 42 – 44 ). Moreover, short–and medium chain fatty acids including butyric acid (C4:0), caproic acid (C6:0) and caprylic acid (C8:0) were slightly higher in the Concept IF compared to Standard IF.…”

Advances in the composition, efficacy, and mimicking of human milk phospholipids

“…Mice and clinical trials have confirmed that CIF containing interfacial PLs enhances the absorption of total fatty acids, particularly palmitic acid, as compared to that of vegetable oil-based IF. 146 Furthermore, other clinical findings have indicated that feeding CIF in early infancy leads to a body mass index trajectory that more closely resembles that of breastfed infants, 147 positively affecting children's neurocognitive development. 148 Thus, PLs in IF should be comparable to human milk in composition and content, and mimic human milk PLs in its globule membrane structure, to provide nutritional benefits to infants similar to human milk.…”