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. 2023 Mar;62(2):833-845.
doi: 10.1007/s00394-022-03024-5. Epub 2022 Oct 25.

Milk fat globule membrane plus milk fat increase docosahexaenoic acid availability in infant formulas

Antonio Gázquez  1   2 , María Sabater-Molina  2 , Inés Domínguez-López  3 , María Sánchez-Campillo  1   2 , Neus Torrento  4 , Joan Tibau  4 , José A Moreno-Muñoz  5 , María Rodríguez-Palmero  5 , María C López-Sabater  3 , Elvira Larqué  6   7
Affiliations

Milk fat globule membrane plus milk fat increase docosahexaenoic acid availability in infant formulas

Antonio Gázquez et al. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) has components with emulsifier properties that could affect the provision of substrates to the brain. We evaluated the effects of MFGM plus milk fat addition to infant formulas on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) availability and gut development.

Methods: In Experiment 1, suckling piglets were divided into 3 groups: Group L1 (n = 8): fed with a vegetal fat formula with palm oil; L2 (n = 8): canola oil formula and L3 (n = 8): milk fat + canola oil + 1% Lacprodan (3% MFGM of total protein content). In Experiment 2, Group L4 (n = 7): fed with canola oil + 1% Lacprodan (3% MFGM) and Group L5 (n = 5): milk fat + canola oil + 2% Lacprodan (6% MFGM). All formulas contained 0.2% DHA and 0.2% arachidonic acid.

Results: In Experiment 1, DHA was similar among the groups in both total fatty acids and plasma phospholipids (PL). However, 3% MFGM (L3) increased significantly the proportion of DHA and LC-PUFA n-3 in liver total fatty acids, jejunum, and also in jejunum PL respect to the other formulas. There were no changes in gut histology, cell proliferation, apoptosis, or brain DHA content. In Experiment 2, higher MFGM dose was used. Then, higher DHA was not only found in peripheral tissues of 6% MFGM (L5) piglets but also in plasma PL, while a similar trend was observed in cortex PL (p = 0.123).

Conclusion: In conclusion, MFGM plus milk fat may increase DHA availability of infant formulas which could contribute to their beneficial health effects.

Keywords: DHA; Gut; Infant formula; Milk fat globule membrane; Villous.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the collection, analyses, or data interpretation.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Fatty acid profile in A plasma phospholipids, B jejunum phospholipids, and C cortex phospholipids of infant formula-fed piglets with different fat composition: vegetal fat blend with palm oil (L1), vegetal fat with canola oil (without palm oil, L2), or with canola oil + milk fat serum + 3% MFGM (L3). The three formulas contained the same amount of DHA and AA (0.2% of total fatty acids). Data are means ± SD. N = 8/group. AA, arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6); DHA, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3); LA, linoleic acid (18:2 n-6); MFGM, milk fat globule membrane; PA, palmitic acid (16:0). Different letters indicate statistically significant differences between experimental groups (p < 0.05)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A Histological analysis parameters (villi length and crypts depth), B Ki-67 expression, and C Caspase 3 expression in gut samples (jejunum and ileum) of infant formula-fed piglets with different fat composition: vegetal fat blend with palm oil (L1), vegetal fat with canola oil (without palm oil, L2), or with canola oil + milk fat serum + 3% MFGM (L3). The three formulas contained the same amount of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid (0.2% of total fatty acids). Data are means ± SD. N = 8/group. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences between experimental groups (p < 0.05)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Fatty acid profile in A plasma phospholipids, B jejunum phospholipids, and C cortex phospholipids of infant formula-fed piglets with different fat composition: vegetal fat with canola oil (without palm oil) + 3% MFGM (L4) or with canola oil + milk fat serum + 6% MFGM (L5). The two formulas contained the same amount of DHA and AA (0.2% of total fatty acids). Data are means ± SD. L4 n = 7 and L5 n = 5. AA, arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6); DHA, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3); LA, linoleic acid (18:2 n-6); MFGM, milk fat globule membrane; PA, palmitic acid (16:0). *Indicates statistically significant differences between experimental groups (p < 0.05)
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