New findings about fat globule membranes in milk

Research findings on fatty membrane globules (MFGM) play a crucial role in nutritional science. Adding MFGM to infant formula could help bridge the nutritional and functional gap between formula and breast milk.

Helps support children's cognitive and brain development.

Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) is a membrane that surrounds the fats secreted by the mammary glands in mammals. It is a component found in breast milk that supports cognitive and brain development in infants.

The entire MFGM only accounts for 2-6% of the size of the milk fat droplet it encapsulates, but it is crucial.

Although MFGM (Metabolic Metabolism-Glucan) only makes up 2-6% of the size of the milk fat droplet it encapsulates, it is crucial because it is composed of nutrients involved in the body's functional activities – rather than simply providing nutrients to be released as energy.

With its three-layered structure of phospholipids along with glycolipids, proteins, glycoproteins, cholesterol, and other fats, clinical studies over the past 20 years have shown that MFGM has a special impact in supporting the growth and development of the brain/central nervous system and gut, as well as enhancing gut immunity.

First, the fatty component of MFGM contains high levels of phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, and cholesterol. Phospholipids and glycosphingolipids play a major role in brain nerve cells during fetal development, as well as promoting nerve cell growth, differentiation, and synapsis of neurons in the first year of life.

In addition to fats, the outer layer of MFGM contains several proteins. Analyses have revealed at least 191 different proteins in human breast milk MFGM, and a similar number in refined cow's milk. Of these, 74 MFGM proteins are of particular interest because many of them are known to have biological activity and health benefits. Nearly half of the identified proteins have cellular signaling functions.

The glycosylated proteins in MFGM also aid digestion and, in preclinical studies, have shown antibacterial properties.

Bridging the gap between formula and breast milk.

MFGM is an important component of breast milk and beneficial for infant development, but it has long been absent from formula milk. This is why MFGM is now receiving more attention and being added to infant formula.

Despite some differences, MFGM in cow's milk generally contains similar fat and protein components to MFGM in breast milk. Therefore, adding these nutrients to infant formula presents an opportunity to create a formula that is closer in composition and function to breast milk, offering potential health benefits for bottle-fed infants.

In fact, numerous clinical studies have shown differences between children who consume formula supplemented with MFGM and other children.

A study by Timby et al. (published in Am J Clin Nutr, 2014) showed that feeding infants with formula supplemented with MFGM until 6 months of age resulted in improved cognitive abilities at 12 months compared to the control group. This result was comparable to that of breastfed infants.

Another study by Timby et al. (published in JPGN, 2015) demonstrated that feeding infants with formula supplemented with MFGM up to 6 months reduced the incidence of acute otitis media. It also reduced the incidence and need for antipyretic medication during the period of MFGM supplementation.

Many compounds in MFGM are more or less lost during milk processing, depending on the technology. However, recent advances in technology have facilitated the separation of MFGM from fat droplets, allowing for the addition of refined bovine MFGM to milk.

Furthermore, numerous clinical studies on children have demonstrated that the use of MFGM-supplemented infant formula is safe and non-allergenic. MFGM supplementation is effective from very low birth weight premature babies to normal-weight babies, up to preschool age. Importantly, this effect persists even after discontinuation.

According to vietnamnet