Article Text
Abstract
Background and aims Formula-fed infants consume lower intakes of several biologically active components present in human milk, including milk fat globule membranes (MFGM) rich in various phospholipids and cholesterol. The aim of the present study was to compare the blood serum lipid profile of term infants feeding an experimental formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes with infants fed standard formula and breast milk.
Methods 90 healthy term infants from<2 months of age were included in the observational study: the experimental formula fed infants (EF, n=30), the standard formula fed infants (SF, n=30), the breast-fed infants (BF, n=30). The experimental formula was supplemented with a bovine MFGM concentrate. The level of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) were measured in every infant. The measurements were made at baseline and after 2 months.
Results After 2 months of intervention the mean total cholesterol concentration was significantly higher in the BF group compared to the SF group and did not differ from EF group (4,2 (3,74;4,75) mmol/L, 3,78 (3,24; 3,98) mmol/L, p=0,005; 3,84 (3.35; 4,63) mmol/L, p=0,107). The mean HDL and TG concentrations did not differ significantly between the three groups at the end of the study. The mean LDL concentration was 2,92 (2,36; 3,64) mmol/L in BF group, 2.23 (1,93; 2,48) in SF group and 2,61 (2,03; 3,24) in EF group. At the end of the investigation the mean LDL concentration was significantly higher in the BF group compared to the SF group (p=0,000) and did not differ from EF group (p=0,083). Despite the increase the level of cholesterol (p=0,022) and LDL (p=0,004) in EF group during the intervention these indicators have not exceeded the reference values and were comparable to those of breastfed infants.
Conclusion The infants fed formula with MFGM concentrate have lipid metabolism more similar to a breast-fed reference group. This intervention can narrow the gap in serum cholesterol concentrations between formula-fed and breast-fed infants.
Disclosure of Interest None Declared
- Milk fat globule membranes
- formula fed infants
- breast fed infants
- lipid metabolism
- cholesterol