Human milk phospholipid analog improved the digestion and absorption of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol

The present study investigated the effects of a human milk phospholipid analog (HPLA) on the digestion and absorption of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol (OPO). The HPLA contained 26.48% phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), 24.64% phosphatidylcholine (PC), 36.19% sphingomyelin (SM), 6.35% phosphatidylinositol (PI), and 6.32% phosphatidylserine (PS), with 40.51% C16:0, 17.02% C18:0, 29.19% C18:1, and 13.26% C18:2. The HPLA prevented OPO from hydrolysis during the in vitro gastric phase, while it facilitated the digestion of OPO during the in vitro intestinal stage, resulting in the production of large amounts of diglycerides (DAGs) and monoglycerides (MAGs). In vivo experimental results showed that the HPLA might increase the gastric emptying rate of OPO and increase the hydrolysis and absorption of OPO at an early stage of intestinal digestion. Notably, fatty acids in the serum of the OPO group decreased to their initial value at 5 h, while the serum of the OPO + HPLA (OPOH) group still contained a high level of fatty acids indicating that the HPLA was helpful in maintaining serum lipid at a high level, which might be beneficial for sustainably providing energy for babies. The present study provides data support for the potential application of Chinese human milk phospholipid analogs in infant formulas.