Spotlight on specialized infant nutrition offerings to optimize gut and immune health

06 Jun 2024 --- An expanding ingredient offer and synergistic combinations support infant nutrition brands to create products that closely resemble human breast milk and cater to specialized dietary needs, such as hypoallergenic formulas. Industry experts highlight the popularity of key ingredients such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), bioactives and probiotics to support infant health and development, such as boosting immunity and gut well-being. 

Nutrition Insight dives into infant nutrition and hero ingredients with dsm-firmenich, Valio, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, AB-Biotics and Lubrizol Life Science. 

“It is widely recognized that human breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants,” highlights the dsm-firmenich team — Despina Ioannides, global marketing manager early life nutrition (ELN), Kristen Finn, ELN translation and advocacy lead and Gertrude Gentile-Rapinett, the company’s head of translational sciences. 

“The infant nutrition industry has been focusing on narrowing the compositional differences between human breast milk and infant formula to optimize health outcomes that are key for infant growth and development.” 

The team at dsm-firmenich highlights that with the wide range of ingredients available for infant nutrition, the industry focuses on understanding “how these bioactive ingredients impact health and development in the pursuit of delivering incremental benefits to all infants.” 

Dr. Anu Turpeinen, nutrition research manager at Valio, and Sari Vahla, head of sales in the company’s customized nutrition department, add that ingredients that enhance immune function and support gut health are sought after. 

“HMOs, probiotics and protein hydrolysates, which support gut well-being and immune function, are appealing components currently, as well as cow’s milk fat,” they underscore. “As fat provides about half of the energy content of breast milk, it has a major impact on infant health and well-being.” 

“Cow’s milk fat has many natural similarities with human milk fat in composition and structure. The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), a unique property of mammal milk, has been shown to enhance infants’ cognitive development and immune function. Also, OPO, the structural triglyceride, which supports nutrient absorption, healthy growth and gut well-being, is naturally present in cow’s milk fat.”

Advancing technology and regulatory approvals expand the industry’s bioactive ingredient toolbox for infant nutrition.Expanding ingredient toolbox 
Ioannides, Finn and Gentile-Rapinett from dsm-firmenich assert that manufacturers have a broader ingredient toolbox due to advancing technology and regulatory approvals of several bioactive ingredients for use in infant nutrition. 

“These include ingredients including the well-established polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); innovations in structured lipids such as MFGM and 1, 3-dioleic acid 2-palmitic acid triglyceride (OPO); a growing portfolio of HMOs; more bioavailable forms of vitamins such as Ca-L-methyfolatebioactive proteins such as lactoferrin and osteopontin; and combinations such as synbiotic solutions are expected to gain popularity with growing evidence on their importance on infant microbiome development.”

The team adds that dsm-firmenich is inspired by human milk and has a complete portfolio of innovative ingredients. “We are pioneers in sustainable sources of DHA and ARA, which are important nutrients for infant brain and eye development. Our life’s DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid, comes straight from the source micro-algae, is plant-based and has no impact on marine life.” 

The company’s premix solutions incorporate crucial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and nucleotides at the “highest quality standards and best-in-class performance in the end application,” explains the team.

“Combining HMOs with probiotics results in synergistic synbiotics that may offer health benefits beyond those of each component.”

The team states that these compounds are the third largest solid component in human milk, and their specific structures have been clinically documented for their gut and immune health benefits. They note that HMO research advances help to understand the specificity of different HMO structures and their mode of action. 

“In a continued effort to be leaders in this field, we are very proud to announce our strategic partnership with Lallemand Health Solutions aiming to unlock the synergies between their clinically documented infant probiotic strain portfolio and GlyCare HMOs.” 

Combining HMOs 
Floor van der Horst, ELN global marketing director at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, sees the potential of combining different types of oligosaccharides in early life nutrition as “one of the most exciting focuses of innovation.” The company provides galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and HMOs, such as its Aequival 2-’FL. 

“When combining these ingredients, formulators achieve a larger variety of oligosaccharide structures in their products compared to single ingredients. Increasing this diversity is inspired by the complex composition of human milk, and it is believed that the unmatched nutritional value of breast milk is partly attributable to its unique oligosaccharide composition.”

Van der Horst explains that GOS and HMOs positively influence the gut microbiota, which impacts multiple areas of infant health. Specifically, they stimulate the growth of different beneficial bacteria with complementary health benefits. “GOS are known to improve digestive comfort and mineral absorption, while 2’-FL supports brain development and immune function. All these are areas of health high on the priority list for parents worldwide.” 

GOS and HMOs benefit the gut microbiota, which impacts multiple health areas (Image credit: FrieslandCampina Ingredients).So far, over 200 HMO structures have been identified in human milk, suggesting that not one HMO is responsible for the beneficial effects on breastfed infants. Van Der Horst notes that brands want to combine various oligosaccharide structures in their formulas. 

“But this presents a challenge — adding multiple HMOs into formulas is normally costly. Currently, only a limited selection of them is commercially available, and different HMOs are approved for use in different markets.” 

“As a provider of both premium HMOs and GOS — which contains three HMOs (3’-GL, 4’-GL and 6’-GL) — we can help brands deliver the associated benefits in a more cost-effective way than a typical multiple HMO mix.” 

Hypoallergenic and lactose-free 
At the same time, Valio’s Turpeinen and Vahla highlight that the prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing globally, signaling a growing need for hypoallergenic formulas. The company aims to expand its portfolio to include such formulations. 

“We aim to provide solutions also for infants with special nutritional needs. Valio is a pioneer in lactose-free technology, and we have the capability to produce lactose-free infant formula for infants diagnosed with lactose intolerance. We have protein hydrolysates to promote gut well-being and aim to expand our portfolio to hypoallergenic formula.”

“Digestive disorders and different gastrointestinal symptoms are estimated to affect about 30% of infants,” they continue. “Although lactose is an important component of breast milk, infants diagnosed with lactose intolerance benefit from a lactose-free formula.” 

Valio launched the first lactose-free milk in 2001 and has “the broadest assortment in lactose-free milk powders,” add Turpeinen and Vahla. 

“With specific hydrolysis of cow’s milk proteins not found in breast milk, our future aim is to bring infant formula protein composition again one step closer to breast milk.”

Valio sees a growing need for hypoallergenic formulas as the prevalence of allergic diseases rises.Infant microbiome 
According to dsm-firmenich’s Ioannides, Finn and Gentile-Rapinett, the understanding of the infant microbiome has advanced significantly in recent years. At the same time, they signal there is still much to learn about how microbial communities influence health and disease across the lifespan. 

“Modern lifestyle factors such as mode of delivery, breastfeeding, antibiotic use, diet, hygiene practices, environmental factors and maternal stress have been shown to influence the infant microbiome composition and development. Within the first 36 months of life, there is a unique window of opportunity to restore any imbalances and sustain an age-appropriate healthy microbiome composition that is the foundation for lifelong health.” 

Miquel Bonachera, co-founder at AB-Biotics, sees significant opportunities for probiotics as digestive health and enhanced immunity become more prominent areas of focus in infant health. 

“Clinically-documented strains which have been specifically developed and tailored for children could help to support the restoration and maintenance of healthy gut microbiota, which have an impact across other health areas.”

“Where antibiotics have been taken, certain specific probiotics can effectively restore gut balance and could also benefit children as they experience dietary changes. Recent global health concerns have also made parents increasingly conscious of their children’s immunological health, where probiotics have a significant opportunity to shine through gut-immunity axis modulation.”

Bonachera highlights that AB-Biotics’ probiotic strain portfolio targets a range of infant health concerns, from colic and digestive health to broader infant immunity concerns, effectively balancing the gut microbiota from the newborn stage onwards. 

He illustrates: “The combination of strains Bifidobacterium longum KABP 042 (CECT 7894) and Pediococcus pentosaceus KABP 041 (CECT 8330) — marketed as AB-Kolicare — supports the healthy development of infant microbiota, with a particular focus on easing the symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders like colic and constipation, which can cause significant distress for both the child and the parent.”

The company’s product AB-Digest Kids combines strains B. longum KABP 042 (CECT 7894), P. pentosaceus KABP 041 (CECT 8330) and Lactiplantibacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) to help combat antibiotic-associated diarrhea and other digestive disturbances by balancing gut microbiota and providing protection against pathogens. 

Formulation challenges in infant nutrition affect its taste, impacting infant acceptance and tolerability.Formulation challenges 
Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager in nutraceuticals at Lubrizol Life Science, highlights that many infant formulas are produced by extensively modifying cow’s milk and adding nutrients. 

“In particular, they are supplemented with minerals such as iron during the manufacturing process, and PUFAs such as DHA are also added to the formula as they are thought to be important for proper neural and cognitive development in newborns.” 

“However, due to the complex nature of infant formulas and the stability of some of their ingredients, there may be issues with their shelf life and, therefore, consumer safety, especially when intended for infants. Therefore, great care must be taken at all stages of their formulation, handling and storage.” 

Gómez illustrates that formulation challenges in infant formulas affect the taste and, as such, infant acceptance and tolerability. “For example, infant formulas fortified with iron and PUFAs have been shown to undergo oxidative degradation, resulting in off-flavors and instability. Previous negative experiences with these products can make infants wary, making it difficult for them to accept reintroduction.” 

The company’s Lipofer microcapsules combine multiple technologies to ensure a palatable, bioavailable and stable source of iron, enabling the delivery of an iron-fortified product with optimal performance.

“In a study comparing the oxidative degradation of iron and PUFA-fortified infant formulas during storage, Lipofer demonstrated superior sensory value and control of oxidative degradation of iron,” she adds. “It was shown to be more stable immediately after manufacture and during storage compared to formulations containing other sources of iron.”

By Jolanda van Hal