Science & Technology

INFAT^® is an sn–2 palmitate (OPO) fat ingredient with 7  benefits.

Human milk is the best nutrition for infants Human milk provides the optimal nutrition for infants. It offers perfectly balanced nutrition, naturally meeting the needs of growing infants in the first months of life [1, 2]. In human milk, the fat provides about 50% of the energy newborns require for proper growth and development [3].

sn-2 palmitate a unique feature of human milk Human milk research has revealed a unique structure where palmitic acid, one of the most abundant fatty acids found in human milk, is usually attached (70-80% of the time) to the middle position in the glycerol back-bone. This typical structure is found in human milk of women irrespective to country of origin, suggesting that it may serve an important function [4,5].

INFAT^® OPO – Enhances sn-2 palmitate level  In most infant formula produced today, the fat component is based on vegetable oils, where the majority of palmitic acid is positioned on sn-1 or sn-3, and not on sn-2. INFAT^®, a specially structured vegetable oil with palmitic acid bound to the middle position of the triglyceride (TG), also known as sn-2 position, was developed for infant formula to elevate its sn-2 palmitate level, so it is closer to human milk fat structure.

How does it work? In the newborn infant, enzymes, called lipases, play important roles in triglyceride digestion. These enzymes cleave the fatty acids from positions 1 and 3, producing 2 free fatty acids and a 2-monoacylglycerol. The free fatty acids and the monoglyceride are all absorbed after they form micelles with bile salts. In human milk, where the long saturated fatty acids, like palmitic acid, are bound to the middle position, the process of free fatty acids and 2-monoacylglycerol absorption is efficient. However, when the infant is fed with a formula containing standard vegetable oils, the palmitic acid which is mainly bound to positions 1 or 3, is cleaved off and the free palmitic acid can form insoluble calcium salts in the intestinal lumen, referred to as calcium soaps. The formation of calcium soaps negatively affects both calcium and saturated fatty acid absorption. The calcium soaps pass further along the intestinal tract where they may contribute to hard stool and infant discomfort. Multiple human clinical trials show that formula with at least 40% sn-2 palmitate, may be beneficial for young infants [6-8].