Clinical significance of milk fat globules for infant health

WEI Wei; WANG Zhixu; WANG Xingguo; MAO Meng

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1399

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (2) : 132-135. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1399

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Clinical significance of milk fat globules for infant health

WEI Wei¹, WANG Zhixu², WANG Xingguo¹, MAO Meng³

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Abstract

Breast milk is the natural food best suited to infants′ digestive and metabolic capabilities, fulfilling their comprehensive nutritional needs. Heightened attention and research on the components of breast milk have facilitated improvements in infant formula. The structure of breast milk fat globules is recognized as an important part of the breast milk biosystem. Clinical trials indicate that novel formulas containing structures mimicking breast milk fat globules exhibit safety and well tolerance, with body mass index development trajectories closer to those of breastfed infants. These formulas surpass traditional infant formulas in terms of average fecal fat content, phosphorus and calcium levels, and total fatty acids in stool samples, while also modulating infant gut microbiota. They promote infant cognitive development by enhancing the absorption of ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Key words

breast milk / formula milk / milk fat globule / growth and development / infants

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WEI Wei, WANG Zhixu, WANG Xingguo, MAO Meng. Clinical significance of milk fat globules for infant health[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(2): 132-135 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1399

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