Comparison of phospholipid composition and microstructure of milk fat globules contained in human milk and infant...

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Infant Nutrition
• Food Science

Background:

• Phospholipids are crucial for infant development, particularly cognitive function.
• Human milk (HM) is the gold standard for infant nutrition, containing a complex array of phospholipids and intact milk fat globules (MFGs).
• Infant formula (IF) composition, especially phospholipid profiles and MFG structure, may differ significantly from HM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare phospholipid species and content between various infant formulas (IF) and human milk (HM).
• To evaluate the structural integrity of milk fat globules (MFGs) in IF relative to HM.
• To provide data for developing improved IF that better mimics HM composition and structure.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phospholipids using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).
• Analysis of six distinct classes of IF and pooled HM samples.
• Characterization of MFG size, zeta potential, and quantity in IF and HM.

Main Results:

• Phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin content were significantly lower in IF compared to HM.
• Cow's milk-based IF exhibited the highest diversity of phospholipid species.
• IF fortified with milk fat globular membrane showed the highest overall phospholipid content.
• MFGs in IF were significantly smaller, had lower zeta potential, and were less abundant than those in HM.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in phospholipid profiles and MFG structural integrity between IF and HM.
• Current IF formulations may not fully replicate the complex phospholipid environment of human milk.
• Findings offer insights for enhancing IF to better support infant nutritional and developmental needs.