Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings
Published on: February 7, 2025
[The level of lipid peroxidation in milk replacer formulas for initial feeding of infants]
Hanna Czeczot1, Grażyna Cichosz2, Adam Ambroziak2
1Department of Biochemistry, I Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Lipid peroxidation products in infant formulas pose health risks. Levels increased significantly with storage time and after opening, indicating potential harm to infants.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
Context:
- Lipid oxidation products, such as aldehydes and peroxides, are harmful to human health.
- These compounds in infant foods present a significant health hazard, potentially causing diarrhea and impacting nervous system development.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the extent of lipid peroxidation in milk substitutes for infant feeding.
- To assess lipid peroxidation levels before the expiration date of infant formulas.
Summary:
- Lipid peroxidation, measured as TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), was assessed in six infant formulas.
- Increased TBARS concentrations were observed after 12 months of storage and 21 days post-opening.
- Variations in lipid peroxidation levels were linked to the quantity and quality of plant oils used, specifically fatty acid profiles.
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of monitoring lipid peroxidation in infant nutrition.
- Informs manufacturers about the impact of oil composition and storage on product safety.
- Underscores potential risks associated with prolonged storage and post-opening of infant formulas.
Unlabelled:
The products of lipids oxidation: peroxides, hydroxides, aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols and others show harmful activity against human organism. Presence of the compounds in baby's and children's food creates potential health hazard. Many of them cause infant's and children's diarrhoea, also, negatively influence development of nervous system, show cytotoxic, mutagenic and cancerogenic activity (e.g. malonicdialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal and others).
Aim:
The aim of the work was to assess the level of lipids peroxidation in milk substitute preparations for initial stage baby feeding, before their end of shelf-life.
Materials And Methods:
The level of lipids peroxidation measured as TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) concentrations was determined in 6 available on the Polish market milk substitute infant formulas. The determinations was carried out before the end of the shelf-life after 1,2,3,6,9 and 12 months after purchase. The level of lipid peroxidation was also determined after 3-4 and 21 days post opening.
Results:
TBARS content in the infants food ready to be eaten depended on the time of preparation storage. The highest level of lipids peroxidation was observed in all the studied food after 12 months of storage and after 21 days after opening of the hermetical wrapping. Various level of lipids peroxidation in milk substitutes for infant nutrition resulted from different amounts and quality of plant oils used in production (different content of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, presence of lack of linoleic and α-linolenic acids).
