Role of breast milk fat globule membrane in lipidome formation, physical and neuropsychological development of breastfed infants

This article presents information on human milk fat globules obtained using omics approaches. More than 420 unique lipids and 1104 types of proteins have been identified and suspended in an aqueous medium using a triple phospholipid layer membrane, the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which is present only in animal fat but not in vegetable oils. The structure of MFGM is dominated by proteins (xanthine oxidase, fatty acid-binding proteins, adipophilin, butyrophilin, CD36, mucin-1, lactadherin), polar lipids with high functional activities (phospholipids, gangliosides, sphingomyelin) and cholesterol. Experimental and clinical studies have established that nutrition enriched with MFGM promotes the formation of a lipidome similar to that of breastfeeding, improves brain development, cognitive, visual and neuropsychological functions. Components of MFGM may have a protective effect on the risk of cardiovascular diseases and functional digestive disorders and contribute to the programming of child health in subsequent age periods. The inclusion of MFGM-enriched ingredients in infant formulas is a new step towards their further adaptation to the composition of breast milk. Key words: infants, breastfeeding, breast milk, milk fat globule membrane