Title: Infant formula containing large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets and dairy lipids affects cognitive performance at school age
| Published: | May 21, 2024 |
Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits for infants and children, including neurocognitive development and function1,2. Conversely, enhanced cognitive performance in childhood is often associated with improved mental and physical well-being throughout one’s lifespan.
In this long-term follow-up study, Danone R&I researchers found that 3-4 month exposure during infancy to a formula developed via the Nuturis® process, which closely mimics human milk lipid composition and milk fat globule structure, may enhance cognitive function in childhood.
The innovation is thought to improve cognitive benefits through different mechanisms. For example, the unique structural properties of the large milk phospholipids-coated lipid droplets developed via the Nuturis® process influence digestion and absorption kinetics in the gastrointestinal tract. This, in turn, may result in varied nutrient availability and greater accumulation of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain.
The study underscores the potential of the new formula to narrow the neurocognitive development gap between breastfed and formula-fed infants.
An additional publication stemming from the same follow-up study also highlights the positive long-term effects of the innovation developed via the NUTURIS® process on childhood BMI trajectories and blood pressure up to the age of 5. In the coming years, further research will help us shed light on the potential enduring impact of lipid droplet characteristics in infant nutrition on growth trajectories, body composition, metabolic development and other health outcomes.
Aligned with the World Health Organization’s view on the importance of breastfeeding for infant health, we advocate for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, followed by sustained breastfeeding up to two years and beyond in combination with the safe introduction of appropriate complementary foods. Drawing on our extensive expertise, we are uniquely positioned to develop innovative early life nutritional solutions aimed at providing mothers with breastfeeding guidance and support.
Read the full study here: Frontiers | Infant formula containing large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets and dairy lipids affects cognitive performance at school age
1. Belfort MB, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinman KP, Guthrie LB, Bellinger DC, Taveras EM, et al. Infant feeding and childhood cognition at ages 3 and 7 years: effects of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. JAMA Pediatr. (2013) 167:836–44. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.455
2. Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, Franca GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. (2016) 387:475–90. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7